ProMusica Youth Orchestra (PMYO)
¡Enrich. Inspire. Perform!
Mission Statement
Nurturing aspiring Mexican musicians to develop and strengthen their life skills through musical performance.
Vision Statement
Evolving and sustaining a youth orchestra as an instrument to enrich the lives of both musicians and music lovers in our community.
“We are defined by our actions, not our words.” Captain Fantastic 2016
About Us
The ProMusica Youth Orchestra supports approximately fifty young adult Mexican musicians aged 18 to 30. While participating in the orchestra, they are provided a stipend to cover travel expenses and encourage participation. The stipend allows these aspiring musicians to focus on their craft rather than squander their time on non-musical employment. Through hard work and discipline, the orchestra rehearses and performs challenging music designed to prepare them for a future as a professional orchestral musician.
Our Shared Goals & Values
ProMusica, our young adult musicians, and the community all work together as a team to manifest our mission and vision. Each group supports and realizes our shared goals through their exemplary actions.
Goals for Our Organization, Musicians & Community:
- To Promote the Sustainability of the orchestra so the community can feel confident in our continued growth and success.
- To Promote the Growth and Future of classical music in our local community by inspiring young musicians with great music and entertaining concerts for all to enjoy.
- To Enrich our Local Community and support young musicians through symphonic music concerts.
Values for Our Organization, Musicians & Community:
The manner by which we achieve our goals is very important. Thus, understanding the values that underpin our behavior is essential. The organization, musicians and community have different values while still sharing the same overall goals.
May Our Goals be Realized by Our Actions, and Our Actions be Guided by These Values – Robert Mari
Values of the ProMusica Organization
- Demonstrating Fiscal Responsibility ensures that patrons and the organizations financial support is used responsibly with our values, vision and mission.
- Supporting our Community is at the heart of our organization. Our greater community benefits from beautiful music while our musical community gains both valuable life skills and professional orchestra experience.
- Supplying Mentorship extends beyond stipend payments; it means empowering young musicians growth and momentum throughout their lives and careers. We do this by providing structure, discipline, and inspiration from local professional musicians who participate with the orchestra as well as through our structured program.
Values of the Young Adult Musicians:
- Demonstrating Responsibility through practice, preparing music, and attending all rehearsals.
- Showing Professionalism by arriving early to be warmed up and ready to play when rehearsal or performance starts. For our musicians and orchestra to succeed, being well prepared is critical, including being appropriately dressed for concerts.
- Having the Integrity to attend practice and performance for the benefit of the orchestra, not only for the stipend.
- Showing Respect to all fellow musicians, the director, the patrons, the organization and our audiences.
Values of Our Community of Music Lovers
- One Time Financial Contributions both large and small support the annual participation of the musicians. Ongoing Financial Support sustains our mission for years to come.
- By Attending Concerts, fans support the hard work the orchestra invests into the realization of excellent performances.
- Volunteering as a musical mentor or participating in the many tasks required to make rehearsals and concerts successful: “Many hands make light work.”
Our Music Director & Conductor
Robert Mari volunteers as the Music Director and Conductor of the PMYO. He started playing piano at the age of three and only two years later began performing for the public. Robert first performed with baton in hand at thirteen; two years later, he was the Music Director and Conductor of two folk orchestras in Vancouver and Victoria BC, Canada. While completing his Masters of Music at the University of British Columbia, he conducted several choirs and orchestras. During his postgraduate studies at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore Maryland, he founded the Charles Street Chamber Orchestra and was recognized by president Ronald Reagan for his contributions to the community.
After this, Robert left music for a short period of time to pursue a career in computers before retiring from the business world to return to being a musician. He has produced several recordings, composed music for films, orchestra and choirs, and was the Music Director and Conductor for the Cowichan Consort Orchestra and Choir on Vancouver Island BC, Canada, until retiring in 2021.
In 2021, Robert joined PMYO after the sudden loss of the previous conductor, Tim Hazel.
“By giving a stipend to the young adult musicians, having others from the community playing with them, and performing great works of music, we nourish and manifest our Mission, Vision, Goals and Values.” – Robert Van Mari, Musical Director and Conductor, PMYO
