Bridging generations in action.
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EPSMF: 20 Years Strong
Our name, the El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future (EPSMF) was adopted in 2014 to indicate a clear and identifiable direction for our work in the border community. We continue to develop our programs to bridge generations. What and whom we nurture now-through the power of music-becomes the future.
Originally founded as the El Paso Music Festival, EPSMF had its origins in June 2005. The first concert grew out of a memorial concert for Michael Salzman and the inauguration of a piano scholarship in his name for the University of Texas at El Paso Music Department. Today, EPSMF is a non-profit organization working to give young musicians and the border community a variety of classical musical events, programs, and outreach. Each year, EPSMF names an honoree who impacts the community through their support to programs, education, and/or generosity to the Arts. These honorees have made impactful contributions to the community and leave behind legacies that have become embedded in the memories of many people. The EPSMF journey through the years has been graced with those that have gone before us and those that are still with us.
Earlier events included annual concerts featuring international artists, such as concert pianist, Christopher O’Riley, as well as acclaimed local artists, flutist, Melissa Colgen-Abelin, and La Catrina Quartet. In the season, Jeremy Mims returned home to El Paso with Melissa Loehnig for a fabulous four-hands piano performance. The organization celebrated its 10-year anniversary as a sponsor of the Carnegie Weill Hall concert, Grace Coultier & Friends by a repear performance with flutist Haely Rempel at the El Paso Museum of Art. Summer 2015 bridged generations in am amazing concert featuring countertenor Brian Asawa with soprano Natanya Washer. EPSMF moves into the future with focus on the Competition for Young Musicians performances and concerts featuring new music by young composers through the OMNI program. Pandemic conditions, requiring safety measures and social distancing, led to creative delivery of performances giving patrons the opportunity to view recordings.
EPSMF is a three-time host to NPR’s radio show From the Top. The June 2009 live-taping featured El Pasoan, Natanya Washer, a recipient of the $10,000 Jack Kent Cooke Your Artist Award, performing with El Paso Choral Society Young Ladies Choir. The 2013 show featured Wesley Yu, violinist and the winner of EPSMF’s first Competition for Young Musicians. The 2016 taping featured Madison Fanning, flutist, from Hanks High School. The El Paso shows have been aired numerous times on national airwaves.
EPSMF programs have been carefully designed and evaluated throughout the years to deliver quality opportunities to young musicians locally and nationally. The Competition for Young Musicians (CYM) and Instruments for Young Lives (IYL) along with POISE (Previously Owned Instruments for Symphonic Education) programs support young musicians in their education and music standards. OMNI (Original Music/New Ideas) opened international participation for young classical composers (ages 9-25). It launched successfully in September 2017. The program will continue on a biannual basis with new opportunities for young composers.
Outreach has become creative in these interesting times and touches the community where music adds insight, education, or comfort to lives through the grass root efforts and organized activities, Competition finalists and instrument recipients participate in outreach activities through the Ambassador Leadership Program (ALPs) to build leadership skills. The 2025 launch of SINGS (Songs for a New Generation of Singers) reaches further to persons of all ages within the nuero diverse community to share their voices.
Embrace the power of music through the passions of young musicians with us!