Wayzata Elementary String Program Oral History Project: Interview with Mary Anne Young

Titles: Wayzata Elementary String Program Oral History Project: Interview with Mary Anne Young (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Mary Anne Young and her husband Les are the parents of five children (Matt, Therese, Sarah, Elizabeth and Leah) all of whom attended Redeemer Lutheran School through eighth grade while participating fully in the Wayzata elementary and junior high string programs. This full-family string participation represented a complicated matrix for Mary Anne, who was responsible for transportation along with overseeing practice and listening. In addition to managing her family's schedule, Mary Anne served as an accompanist for the elementary repertoire classes for many years along with taking on many tasks as a parent volunteer for Wayzata Orchestra Boosters. The Young family has a standing tradition of playing in a church orchestra at Christmas time, with Mary Anne serving as conductor. An ensemble made up of the Young daughters has offered music at family reunions and weddings, including the marriages of their cousin and brother. In Mary Anne's words, "The finest elements of musicianship, listening, developing the ability and desire to focus and concentrate have enhanced every aspect of our lives. We thank the Wayzata Public Schools, our excellent string faculty and Dr. Suzuki for making this happen." Les worked in the insurance industry, and at the time of the interview was with the Hayes Group in Minneapolis, while Mary Anne was the mayor of the City of Medicine Lake and an active volunteer at Ascension School in north Minneapolis. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Mary Anne Young describes the involvement of her five children in the Wayzata string program and the impact the program had upon the life of the family. She talks about their music activities, the practice routine, music study innovations, home recitals, and her own heavy involvement as a repertoire class accompanist and parent volunteer. The many manifestations of string study in the life of the family represented a juggling act for her as a parent, since she was primarily responsible for considerable transport and also home practice. Finally, she describes the lives of her grown family in the present, and the role that music still plays for the children.

Dates

• 08/14/2001 (Creation)

Creation

• interviewer: Weber, Lynne
• interviewee: Young, Mary Anne

Identifiers

• Library Call Number: OH 109
• Accession Number: AV2007.12.30

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Project

• Oral History - Project, MHS Collection, project: 'Wayzata Elementary String Program Oral History Project' <OH 109>

Quantity: 1.5 hours sound cassette 16 pages transcript

Format

• Content Category: sound recordings
• Content Category: text

Measurements

• 00:25:04 running time

Subjects

How can we help?

• Help / About Collections Online
• Learn about the Collections
• Contact the Gale Family Library for help with research, orders, and use/licensing
• Have feedback or comments on the new Collections Online system? Please fill in the Collections Online Feedback Form.