Our Mission
Santa Barbara teen musicians Grace Hu, Charlotte Choi, and Tara Pinsker started YouthMuze with the mission of providing free, accessible music education to youth or any aspiring musicians, because the teens know firsthand how costly and inaccessible music education can be.
YouthMuze is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free tutoring and teaching services by experienced teen musicians in the Santa Barbara area.
YouthMuze is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free tutoring and teaching services by experienced teen musicians in the Santa Barbara area.
Grace Hu, PresidentPerforming Arts Scholarship Foundation (PASF) Finalist, three-time Santa Barbara Music Club (SBMC) Scholarship Recipient, three-time Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) Bach Festival Santa Barbara Branch Winner, and two-time Southern California Junior Bach Festival Regional I Medalist are just a few accolades to mention for pianist Grace Hu. Ever since Grace’s mom signed her up for music lessons at the age of four, music and piano have always been a constant in Grace’s life.
Grace first began studying piano with Donna McGary and then Marilyn Clements. At age eight, Grace joined her current piano teacher’s studio, Vera Kong, and Grace’s piano endeavors took off. At age eleven, Grace participated in MTAC’s Bach Festival and rocketed up to become a Regional I Medalist. A year later, in 2018, Grace was accepted into the Music Academy of the West’s prestigious MERIT program- a selective two-week intensive program where musicians ages 10-18 are immersed into the academy’s summer school and individually mentored by the academy’s esteemed members. Through 2020 and 2021, Grace’s tenacious work ethic and undeterred efforts have granted her the opportunity of being accepted to play in three concerts with the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic Orchestra at the renowned Walt Disney Concert Hall (virtual during Covid) Outside of piano, Grace is an avid reader, writer, singer, and outdoor lover. Grace is passionate about singing and has been taking vocal lessons with Sharlae Jenkins since 2019. At her school, Grace is a member of the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy. She is also a part of her school’s cross country and track and field team. In addition, Grace enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with friends and family. |
Charlotte Choi, Vice PresidentCharlotte has been playing the cello for nearly 10 years, having started when she was only 5 years old. She began studying the cello with Alita Rhodes and currently studies with Sarah Koo Freeman.
Charlotte’s experience in cello is demonstrated by her completion of levels 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s First Class Honors exam for violoncello. She has also been in the National Cello Institute (NCI) for 6 years and has many years of experience playing with other musicians in orchestra and chamber music groups. At the age of six she joined Santa Barbara Strings and was a passionate member from 2012–2018, and was in the most advanced orchestra (Vivace) for 3 years. Charlotte also took part in Santa Barbara Strings’ chamber music program from 2014-2018 and was able to play in various piano trios and quartets. In 2020 Charlotte joined Chamber Music Orange County, where her quintet was coached by Iryna Krechkovsky, an international concert violinist and music educator, and was given the opportunity for cellist Clive Smith in a masterclass. Charlotte has played in many other masterclasses for renowned cellists such as Anthony Elliot, Rick Mooney, Nancy Yamagata, Amy Barston, and Alan Stepansky. Locally, Charlotte has won a scholarship from the Santa Barbara Music Club for the past 5 years in a row (2017–2021). She received an honorable mention in the 2019 Los Angeles Violoncello Society (LAVS) competition and placed 2nd in the Intermediate Cello level in the 2020 American String Teachers Association (ASTA) competition. This year, Charlotte won 1st prize in the 2021 International Music Competition “Rome” Grand Prize Virtuoso. She has also been invited as a quarter-finalist to Moscow, Russia, for the XI International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. Charlotte’s other hobbies include reading, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family. She currently attends Dos Pueblos High School and loves taking part in her school’s Mock Trial team and Engineering Academy. |
Tara Pinsker, SecretaryTara Pinsker is fifteen years old at Dos Pueblos High School where she is in the Engineering Academy. Piano has always been a big part of her life as she started playing piano at the age of five, and has been playing piano for nine years since then. She is currently studying piano with Donna McGary. Although she does not competitively play piano, she has played many pieces by numerous musicians such as Scarlatti, Bach, Handel, Kulau, Mozart and more. Tara enjoys playing the piano because it is really fun and it makes her happy!
When Tara is not playing piano, she dances at Santa Barbara Dance Arts where she is on her studio’s performance company and competition team. She has been dancing for 8 years and does many different styles of dance such as ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. She also likes to travel and hangout with her friends during her free time! |
AboutYouthMuze is a non-profit organization started by teen musicians Grace Hu, Charlotte Choi, and Tara Pinsker with the mission of providing convenient, accessible music education to young aspiring musicians in the Santa Barbara community.
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ContactEmail Board: youthmuze@gmail.com
Email Directors: youthmuze.team@gmail.com Phone: (805) 697-1221 |
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