Cecily Yoakam has joined the Music for All staff as Advocacy and Educational Resources Coordinator. Cecily comes to Music for All most recently having taught band at Barton Middle School in Buda, TX as part of the Hays Consolidated Independent School District, where she focused primarily on teaching beginner woodwind students.
Cecily graduated from Union High School in Tulsa, OK, where she was a drum major and played the oboe. She went on to study Music Education at the University of North Texas, graduating in 2017. She is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, Texas Music Educators Association, and Texas Bandmasters’ Association.
She is a former Bands of America Championship and Music for All Summer Symposium participant. In the summer of 2017, she served as the Advocacy and Educational Resources Intern. Cecily served on the Summer Symposium SWAG Team for three years.
“The Music for All Education Team along with the Indianapolis office staff are thrilled to have Cecily Yoakam join the organization in this crucial role,” says James Stephens, Director of Advocacy and Educational Resources. “Cecily certainly has the passion, energy, and experience to be a key player in the development and expansion of our educational programming and advocacy work. I am excited to work alongside Cecily through our commitment and support of scholastic music education and access to it for every child.”
“The impact music has had on my life inspired me to become a music teacher so I may have the chance to give others the same experiences, and I feel incredibly humbled and grateful to serve this organization.” says Yoakam, “Without the experiences I had as a student participant and SWAG team member, I would not be who I am today. I firmly believe everyone should have access and opportunity to music, not just the few who can afford it. I believe in Music for All because I believe that through growing young musicians, it is an opportunity to grow a better future. By providing students with diverse and positive opportunities to experience music, Music for All is changing the world — one student at a time through music.”
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Music for All, Inc. is a nonprofit, a 501(c)3 educational organization that presents more than 45 programs and events across America annually and is a voice for music and arts education in all scholastic environments.