The Fargo Moorhead Area Youth Symphonies (FMAYS) is enhancing music education for young musicians in the region, providing them with opportunities to refine their skills and perform professionally. Established in 1967, FMAYS aims to support music students beyond their school environments, fostering a deep appreciation for orchestral performance.
Laura Kellogg, the Executive Director who assumed her role in 2021, highlighted the organization’s long-standing commitment to youth music education. Originally starting with just one orchestra, FMAYS has expanded significantly, now offering three distinct orchestras tailored to various age groups: Concert Strings for grades 6-8, Attacca Strings for grades 9-12, and the Symphony Orchestra, also for grades 9-12.
These orchestras not only complement local school music programs but also provide advanced students with valuable training through weekly rehearsals, professional development, and six annual concerts, including a joint performance with the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra.
Brad Lambrecht, the director of the FMAYS Symphony Orchestra, emphasized the impact of these programs. He noted that many FMAYS alumni have gone on to study music in college, with some now performing in the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. “I fill out a lot of letters of recommendation and see FMAYS students go to college and become music majors or minors,” Lambrecht stated. “We challenge the kids to do great things and play some of the greatest classical masterpieces.”
FMAYS Attacca Strings Director Lindsay Schwartz Miller described the organization’s focus on helping students find joy in music. “There has been lots of research on how it affects the brain, like creating more neural pathways and enhancing memory sectors,” she explained. “However, the music education FMAYS provides students with an outlet for creative and artistic expression at a very high level.”
The organization strives to make music education accessible to all students. In 2022, FMAYS alumna and clarinetist Joanna Lin established the Resonate Scholarship Fund, which helps support students from rural communities in North Dakota and Minnesota. Kellogg noted that these scholarships are crucial for families commuting more than an hour for rehearsals, making participation feasible for those who might not otherwise have access to a school orchestra.
Collaboration with local schools is essential to FMAYS’s success. Students are generally expected to be enrolled in their school band or orchestra, and Miller emphasized the importance of advocacy from music teachers, who promote FMAYS and help students prepare for auditions.
During auditions, students perform scales, excerpts, and solo pieces, receiving immediate feedback from professionals, including members of the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and university faculty. “It’s a great opportunity for students to start auditioning in a safe space,” Lambrecht noted.
FMAYS holds six concerts each year, including a notable side-by-side performance with the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, allowing students to experience professional mentorship firsthand. “They get to sit next to the FMSO musicians, hear what they sound like up close, get mentored by them, and rehearse under the baton of Chris Zimmerman,” Kellogg explained.
This season, students will perform pieces from various genres, including classics like “Jurassic Park” and works by contemporary composers. Lambrecht expressed excitement about introducing students to both traditional and new orchestral music. “We’re honoring the traditions while still bringing up the new generations of symphonic music,” he stated.
FMAYS’s commitment to music education not only equips students with musical skills but also fosters personal growth, creativity, and community connection. As the organization continues to thrive, it remains a vital resource for aspiring young musicians in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
This article is part of a content partnership with The Arts Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating the arts in Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo. For more information, visit theartspartnership.net.
