Salinas, Calif. –Youth Orchestra Salinas (YOSAL) joyfully invites media and community partners to the 2018 YOSAL Palooza Family BBQ on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 starting at 3:00 p.m. at Kammann Elementary School located at 521 Rochex Avenue, Salinas, CA. More than 300 are expected to attend.
YOSAL Palooza is a carnival style BBQ hosted by the YOSAL Governing Board to celebrate the end of summer programming and to thank the parents for supporting their children in their journey towards music literacy and appreciation.
“The children and young adults have been learning and practicing music pieces for almost six weeks,” said Executive Director, Esmeralda Montenegro Owen. “They will perform different routines every 20 minutes. It will be a beautiful treat for all in attendance.”
YOSAL students and their families will enjoy fun and games, music clinics, earn prizes, and much more. A BBQ dinner will culminate the afternoon as the audience enjoys music performances with the children at center stage.
Over 80 students from Alisal Union School District, Salinas Union High School District, and Salinas City Elementary School District are participating in YOSAL’s six-week summer program; for most of them, it is the first time learning to read music and to play an instrument.
YOSAL, a non-profit organization, is an after school orchestra music program that operates year-round. During the academic year, more than 250 students, K – 12, participate in music instruction 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. daily with time for snack and homework assistance. YOSAL performs at various community events to showcase their craft, talent, and showmanship – these are important elements in a child’s cognitive and confidence development.
About YOSAL
YOSAL was founded in 2010 by Philanthropists, Joanne Taylor Johnson, Lois and Don Mayol, and Superintendent of the Salinas City Elementary School District, Donna Vaughan. The program is inspired by Venezuela’s El Sistema now spreading throughout the U.S. The program was started with 40 students, which has now transformed to 275 and counting. YOSAL offers musical enrichment to at-risk and underserved children from kindergarten through high school. The focus and discipline acquired with the musical training is reflected in improved math and language skills leading to fewer school absences. For more about YOSAL, go to www.yosal.org or call 831.756.5335.
