Founded in 1972, the Minnesota Youth Symphony was founded (under the direction of the organization's first Music Director, Ralph Winkler) for the purpose of providing intensive education and performing experience to talented young musicians.

MYS has just completed its thirty-fifth anniversary year, under the direction of Minnesota Orchestra principal trumpet player Manny Laureano and his wife, Claudette. 

Over the years, MYS has grown from a single orchestra of fifty-eight students to a major educational organization with four orchestras, a summer festival and community outreach program that serves over 600 music students.

I'm proud to say that my late mother, Mildred Kodner, served on the Board of Directors of MYS back in the 1970s.  Mom was a professional violinist in the Chicago area during the late 1940s and she also free-lanced as a performer in the Twin Cities area until her death in 1997.  She was very devoted to supporting MYS and promoting its educational activities.