YEA Music! (Youth Education in Arts) was started in 2018 to provide music opportunities to youth in east Jefferson County, Washington.  The teaching philosophy is based on the El Sistema philosophy of music.  

We have provided several after school music programs to students at Salish Coast Elementary and Blue Heron Middle School before having to suspend group activities due to Covic-19.  During shutdown, YEA Music! has provided over 80 local students with zoom online lessons so that they can continue their musical growth.

We are currently preparing for a return to in person instruction with our 2021 YEA Music! camps (more info here).

We are working towards a goal of supporting an East Jefferson Youth Symphony Orchestra as well as an East Jefferson County Youth Jazz Ensemble. 

YEA Music is currently under the Stronger Towns 501c3 umbrella which also includes The Benji Project, Skillmation, The Production Alliance and Connected Students Initiative.  

EIN: 81-2518239

DLN: 26053567001836

UBI: 603612359

Letter ID: L0000559674 

StrongerTowns

1239 Taylor St

Port Townsend, WA 98368

Meet the YEA Advisory Board Members

Larry Pepper is a certified music teacher with a strong general music and choral background. He has over 35 years of teaching experience in K-5 education in Alaska and Port Townsend. Mr. Pepper Coordinated the initial YEA music program at Salish Elementary School in 2017-2019.

Bruce Cowan was a teacher in Port Townsend School District 1978-2013. His interest in music education was inspired by Andy Mackie, who provided hundreds of free instruments and lessons to local children. Mr. Cowan incorporated music in his primary grades classroom teaching, and then became a half-time vocal music teacher at Blue Heron Middle School. He is a founder and leader of Ukuleles Unite and a member of local choirs. He has been a Centrum music workshop volunteer, private music teacher, and performing musician. 

Weezie Jenkins is a long time Port Townsend teacher. She taught grades three through 12 over a 25 year span, specializing in Math and Sciences in the upper grades. Her career also included teaching internationally for 10 years.Weezie is a choral singer with RainShadow Chorale, and studied voice with Sydney Keegan, Gerri Bergstrom and Kathleen Taylor.

Peter Goll is a working artist and lifelong musician who first moved to Port Townsend in 1974. Since that time, he served eight years in the Alaska Legislature where he was an active advocate for arts education programs. For fourteen years he worked to develop federal funding for rural health and education programs, and provided consulting services for Alaska nonprofits. He has been a member of the advisory board since…

David Neuenschwander received both his BA in English Literature as well as his MBA.  After his time as a USMC Officer, David worked in the private sector as a small business owner and in the audit department of a Regional Bank.  During retirement, he has spent his time volunteering for several local nonprofits where he concentrates on financial accounting.