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GUIDE TO YELLOW SPR INGS | 2021– 2022 27 everyone who wanted it, the system was exclusive. So she gathered some fellow musi- cians, including Mary Schum- acher, and together they started a youth orchestra to complement it. “It was June 1964 — and 25 kids showed up for the first rehearsal,” Mullins said matter- of-factly. Some of the children were Carl and Bruce Schum- acher, Julie Morgan, Billy and Steve Holster and Christoph Stave. At first the program was community based, separate from the schools, and based on the edgy new Suzuki method of immersion for very young students. Shin’ichi Suzuki actually lectured at Antioch College in the 1960s, using the Yellow Springs youth orchestra in a demonstra- tion. But after building a small community youth orchestra, Mullins wanted to connect with the schools to offer the program more widely. By 1970, Yellow Springs middle and high school had expanded its music program to include a full-time band director and Mullins as a part- time orchestra director. “At the high school, the orchestra was always a part- time program, but I was deter - mined that the kids would have a full-time experience,” she said. So between raising a family and performing as a cel- list in a professional ensemble, the English Trio, Mullins grew a star-studded orchestra program with many students who went on to music careers. She took the groups to orchestra contests each year, mostly competing in class B for small schools and typically receiving the highest ratings. And in the 1990s, the music program extended down into Mills Lawn, to start students early on both band and string instruments. And always the Summer Strings and Band program continued to interest young students in taking up a new instrument, or older music students to deepen their ability. Since 2005, Dennis Farmer — who directed the high school band for about 10 years in the 2000s — has added band instrument instruction to the summer camp, and Cindy Lincoln has brought voice instruction into the mix as well. Current all-school band and orchestra director Brian Mayer has also helped with the camps. Under the program’s original rubric of “each one, teach one,” the older students continue to teach the younger ones, Farmer said, which fos- ters independence and helps them grow as leaders. “It gives kids who are really excited about playing, who are practicing a lot, a chance to really dive in,” he said. “Through a mix of private lessons, ensemble instruc- tion, master classes, duets and trios, music theory, conduct- ing and singing … it acts as a nice preparation camp for kids who will go away for over- night immersion camps later in the summer.” The Yellow Springs Youth Orchestra Association now also supports an orchestra, conducted by Mullins, for adults who want to learn a new instrument or get better at one they already play. And though the group used to get regular donations from United Way, now its support comes largely from tuition, private donations and small fundraiser concerts. But Mullins is determined to keep it going, especially to encourage students who might not think of themselves as musicians, but who Mullins knows will learn if given a chance. “There is this philosophy that only your best players can perform,” she said. “I beg your pardon. If you can play ‘Twin - kle, Twinkle,’ you can perform. That’s my philosophy, and it will always be my philosophy.” ♦ mvpottery.com 145 hyde rd, ys 937-767-7517 MIAMI VALLEY POTTERY