Please share a story about your work/experience with ALMA.
The Glenn Miller Orchestra played this last March and I got to be a part of the marketing for the event, as well as helping with ticket sales. I had seen them perform when they performed in 2023, so I was pretty excited to see them again. One thing I didn’t consider, however, was the impact the concert would have on my family. My parents talked about them for days, as the songs that were played at the concert were the same songs their parents used to play when they were kids. My little brother was also very impressed, saying that he had never heard such a big sound before, and that he was now a new fan of jazz (he’s always hated jazz music). It just reminded me how important it is to bring great music to small communities, as it can have a huge impact.
What are you currently excited about regarding ALMA and what project(s) are you a part of?
I’m currently super stoked for ALMA’s “ALMA Reflects” project, a project intended to encapsulate the organization’s extensive history through photos, videos, stories, testimonials, etc. This organization is a vital part of this community, so I’m excited to be a part of such a cool project.
Autumn Yokum
Staff Intern | 2024 – Present
Where are you originally from and what brought you to the San Luis Valley?
I’m originally from… all over! I’ve lived in New Mexico, different parts of Colorado, Texas, and Missouri. But, we originally moved here from Kansas City for my father’s job during my sophomore year of high school. It was a bit of a culture shock, and I hated the Valley with a passion. I counted down the days till graduation so I could get out of the SLV as soon as I could. But, what do you know, I’m still here, 7 years later!
How long have you been a part of ALMA, how did you get involved, and what is your current role within ALMA?
I’ve been a part of ALMA for less than a year as their 2024-25 intern, but I’ve been in love with ALMA’s mission since I moved here. Going from going to concerts every weekend in the big city to moving to the middle of nowhere, I was worried that I wouldn’t get to fulfill my craving for live music like I did in Kansas City. And though it isn’t the same, the live music scene in the SLV is unlike anywhere I’ve seen before. I was able to continue going to concerts largely because of ALMA’s Sundays at Six series, so when I was asked to be the 2024-25 intern, I was ecstatic. My good friend, Rocio De Lira, was the intern for the 2023-24 season and did a PHENOMENAL job. When she initially asked if I was interested in the internship, I almost declined because I was scared, as she set the bar pretty high, and also I knew that a lot goes on behind the scenes to keep the dream alive. But I interviewed for the position, and here I am! I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity and I plan to become a board member after my internship is over.
Why is music important to you? Why do you think it is important for our community?
This is such a hard question to answer, because I don’t even know if I could put into words why music is important to me… but I’ll try. Music is the friend who is always there no matter what season of life I am in. When I haven’t seen old friends in forever, we go see our favorite band live, or we drive on backroads late into the night, blasting our favorite songs. When I’m cooking with my family, music revives old memories and sparks new ones. When I’m processing the changes of my family getting older, my friends getting married and having children, and my little brother graduating high school and heading into the military, music provides the embrace that reminds me change is hard, but it is also good. Music is the friend who brings joy, comfort, and unconditional support, never asking anything in return. It is one of, if not the only thing, that can take a room full of division and hate and turn it into a choir. It is there for all of us and all we have to do is listen. It gives us space for joy, peace, sadness, grief, connection, all of it. It’s a beautiful thing, one of the greatest blessings we have, my favorite thing about living. Why is music important for community? Because what else can bring a room full of strangers together, who hold different values and beliefs, who are a part of different demographics, in the same way music can? Since the beginning of time, music has been a means for connection. Now more than ever, this world craves connection. That is why organizations like ALMA are so important.
