About FAYM

Between 2000 and 2008, there was a small homeschool band in Fredericksburg, led by Eunice Richardson. Over the years, locations changed, and enrollment went up and down. By 2008, Eunice was ready to retire and the band was passed on to Amy Shirk.

Amy took the current band of about 30 students and added a new beginning band, a guitar class, and a piano class, under the name Fredericksburg Area Homeschooled Musicians. There were several requests for an orchestra, so a small beginning orchestra was also introduced.

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Over the next four semesters, enrollment skyrocketed from 30 to 60, then to 100, and eventually to 150, as more homeschoolers heard about the group, and more classes were added. The name of the group was changed to Fredericksburg Area Young Musicians (FAYM) at the start of the 2nd year, 2009. More classes were added, including Recorder, Music Theory and a general music class for young students. Enrollment continued to climb. 

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Locations changed several times in order to accommodate the large growth in enrollment. In 2020, Covid forced FAYM to go online for almost two years. It was challenging, but the dedication of the FAYM students and families was inspiring! We are now back in person, and excited to see all of our students making music together again!

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FAYM currently enrolls about 250 students per semester, with a staff of 8 highly qualified music teachers.