MYAC welcomed Terhi Tuominen in October. Terhi is a full-time team member who joined MYAC after volunteering on our Board Marketing Committee for over two years. Her son, Finn, plays double bass in Jazz Orchestra, and her daughter, Laina, plays cello in Concert Orchestra.

How and when did you first hear about MYAC? How are your children involved?

Our family met Dan Chmielinski, an MYAC alum in May of 2019 at a bass conference. Our then 9-year-old son had just started playing double bass and he wanted to play jazz. Dan told us how he had played jazz at MYAC and encouraged us to enroll our son in MYAC's jazz program. We are forever thankful for both Dan to point us towards MYAC and for Dr. D and Mrs. Dennis for giving our son a chance to play jazz at a very young age and for helping us find a wonderful versatile private bass teacher too. Now four years later our son still continues to grow and benefit from being part of the MYAC jazz program. He now plays in the Jazz Orchestra. Impressed by our son's experiences at MYAC, our daughter also decided to join the orchestra program at MYAC. She currently plays in Concert Orchestra and a Chamber Music ensemble. Her private cello teacher is an MYAC alum too! MYAC is our home away from home both on Saturdays and Sundays!

What is one thing about MYAC that initially impressed you?

The first fall concert at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at Northwestern University was quite an eye opener. Not only did we get to see our young son play in such a beautiful concert hall, but we also witnessed the quality of the performances by many of MYAC's orchestra, choral and jazz ensembles. We were really impressed. It was such a proud parent moment! It felt good that we had made such a good decision to join MYAC! We knew that we had found our home4music for many years to come!

What is your favorite thing about your role here?

My favorite thing about being the marketing director at MYAC is connecting with our families and students and working with our amazing marketing committee members. We are all working towards enriching our student's lives through music! Is there anything better than that? My role also includes community engagement. I love how our conservatory enriches our student's lives with excellent music education, but the families and our communities benefit too! Everyone is welcome at our concerts! Music is an international language without borders and MYAC provides a musical home for us all.

What is your professional background, and how do you bring that experience to your role here?

My professional background is in project and program management. For years I managed implementing big IT solutions around the world. Skills in time management, organization, communication and team building translate directly into my new role with MYAC. We might not be building high tech solutions, but we certainly are promoting wonderful music programs! I love how I can now be a bit more creative in my work.

What is one thing you’ve learned about MYAC after you started working here?

The concert cycle is very fast. When one concert is over, then the next one is just around the corner. Now that I work at MYAC, I not only get to hear my own children's concerts, but also all of the other ensembles. I love music and used to be a viola player and a chorus singer in my youth at the Arctic Circle Conservatory in Finland. It's wonderful to hear music almost every day through MYAC!