This week, we're talking with David Commanday, Music Director of Youth Music Illinois. YMI is hosting its annual fundraising event, "A Musical Masquerade" tonight. The event features performances by the YMI ensembles, silent auctions, and wine and craft beer tastings.
Commanday talks about some of the YMI activities the event supports. The organization serves young musicians of all skill levels, starting as early as 3rd grade, through its various ensembles. One of their newer opprtunities is a jazz ensemble, which performs classic big band repertoire. Commanday also talks about how participating in Youth Music Illinois enhances the musical experience students may be getting from the music programs in their schools. He also notes that musical education correlates with better overall academic performance.
Youth Music Illinois' "Musical Masquerade" will be held tonight at 6:00 at the Life Together Center, located at the corner of Sheridan and War Memorial in Peoria.