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This organization was founded by Robert Raymond to assist young artists to develop their competitive and performance skills in the instrumental or vocal areas of study. 

 

For more than 19 years, SIYAO has provided the opportunity for young artists to compete in annual vocal and instrumental competitions with regional judges with knowledge and background in many musical genres who provide professional written critique to each contestant, with the intention to further enhance their performance skills and a deeper understanding of the music. 

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Board of Directors

Ramon Daniels, Jeanne Hangsleben, John Higgins, Kim McCausland, 

Suzanne Nevins, Amy Waller Prince, Robert Raymond, Joseph Welch

Past participants represented the following colleges and universities:

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  • Baylor University

  • Curtis Institute of Music

  • DePaul University

  • Eastman School of Music

  • Eastern Illinois University - Charleston

  • Eastern Kentucky University

  • Florida State University 

  • Holy Names University

  • Illinois College - Jacksonville

  • Illinois State University - Bloomington/Normal

  • Illinois Wesleyan University - Bloomington

  • Indiana University - Bloomington

  • Iowa State University - Ames

  • The Julliard School

  • Lewis & Clark Community College - Godfrey

  • Lindenwood University - St. Charles

  • National Conservatory of Music, Mexico

  • Manhattan School of Music

  • McKendree College - Lebanon

  • Millikin University - Decatur

  • Northwestern University - Chicago

  • Oberlin College

  • Peabody Institute 

  • Principia College - Elsah

  • Roosevelt University - Chicago

  • Saint Olaf College

  • Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

  • Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

  • Southeast Missouri State University - Cape Girardeau

  • Southwestern Illinois College - Belleville

  • St. Louis University - St. Louis

  • Texas A&M University

  • Truman State University

  • University of Colorado Boulder

  • University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana

  • University of Kansas

  • University of Michigan

  • University of Missouri - Columbia

  • University of Missouri - Kansas City

  • University of Missouri - St. Louis

  • University of Houston, TX

  • Washington University - St. Louis

  • Webster University - St. Louis

  • West Virginia University

  • Western Illinois Universtiy

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