March 2007 - 9 Acts (9 Performers)

Age 12 and Under
McCoy Genfan, 11 – Read his original poetry
Irie Farr, 11 –   Sang accompanied by Brenda
McCoy Genfan and Irie Farr – Photographers for March YAPI

Age 13-19
Bryan Colca, 15 – Played clarinet solos
Dylan Meek, 16 – Played piano solos and improvisations
Albanie, 17 –   Sang and played guitar, and played guitar solos
Penny Williams, 19 – Sang a cappella solos
Lara Claire, 17 – Sang and played guitar on original songs
Andre Rodrigues, 17 – Sang and played guitar (mostly originals)
Elisia Hartin, 16 – MC for March YAPI
Dylan Meek and Albanie – Piano and guitar blues and jazz improvisation jam

YAPI March News & Notes
by McCoy Genfan (age 11)

YAPI (Young Artist Performance Incubator) is an event created by Brenda Freed and sponsored by the non-profit organization, Youth Taking Charge.   Recently Brenda has been having the performers (or just plain old kids) run part of the show.   For example, kids can volunteer to: MC, photograph the performers, help run the sound, write the newsletter (that's what I'm doing, but others can volunteer to write also), put up posters around the Wimberley area and help people sign up for YAPI.

In March's YAPI we had a standing-room only crowd and 10 people performing or helping with YAPI.   You could find anything from clarinet solos from Bryan Colca (15) to a cappella solos from Penny Williams (19) .   We also had Albanie (17) play guitar solos and sing, Lara Claire (17) who sang and played the guitar, Irie Farr (11) sang, Andre Rodriguez (17) sang and played guitar (mostly originals), Dylan Meek (16) played piano solos, McCoy Genfan (11) read his original poetry . We also had Albanie and Dylan Meek play a duet (Albanie on the guitar and Dylan on piano).   Irie Farr and McCoy Genfan took photographs for the March YAPI and McCoy Genfan (me) wrote what you are reading now and the lovely Elisia Hartin (16) did a fantastic job MCing the March YAPI.

I would like to give many thanks to Brenda Freed for creating and running YAPI, Maui Wowi smoothie and coffee shop for hosting YAPI and Youth Taking Charge, the non-profit organization that supports YAPI.

Remember to come out for the next YAPI April 5 , 2007 at Maui Wowi and sign up or just watch and have a great smoothie or cup of coffee.

Announcement: YAPI seeks to involve as many local youth as possible.   Besides performing, youth can be involved in YAPI by:

• taking pictures (Any young photographers out there?),
• writing YAPI news for the mailing list and website, or perhaps writing an article for the school newspaper or local paper (Any young writers out there?),
• helping get performers signed up and getting people on the YAPI mailing list (Any young organizers out there?)
• putting up posters around Wimberley and at all the schools or making a new poster (Any young publicists out there?)
• helping MC-introducing performers and basically running the show (Any young “hams” out there?)
• setting up each act and running the sound system (Any young sound engineers out there?)

If any local youth want experience in any of these areas, please contact Brenda at BFreed1@earthlink.net or call 512-847-1022.   Brenda would be happy to apprentice anyone that is interested in any of these areas. Nothing would be cooler than to have the youth completely run YAPI!  

You can support the YAPI community event by:

1. Coming out to YAPI to perform the first Thursday of every month (if you are 19 and under)
2. Encouraging or bringing a young performer to come perform at YAPI
3. Coming to YAPI to listen to the performers and being a supportive audience member
4. Helping to get people on the YAPI mailing list

All age 19 and under performers encompassing all levels of experience in the Texas Hill Country are welcome to participate in the Young Artist Performance Incubator. YAPI provides a safe and supportive environment for youth to hone their skills, to share their talents and to explore performing.   YAPI is always a FUN time.

If you are reading this and would like to be added to the YAPI email list, or if you know of anyone who would like to be added to this list, please email your/their name and email address to BFreed1@earthlink.net with "Add to YAPI Mailing List" as the subject. Brenda will send only YAPI email reminders and news following each YAPI.

YAPI is sponsored by www.youthtakingcharge.org and takes place on the first Thursday of every month at Maui Wowi in Wimberley, TX.   The next YAPI is Thursday, April 5, 2007.