Camp Staff
Galen Cohen
Camp Director
Galen has been involved with YMA since 1993, when he attended 1st Session as one of the youngest cellists in the program. He remembers that all of the cello parts had to be re-written for him, as it was his first time attempting to play more advanced music. He continued at YMA into his teenage years as a CIT (Counselor in Training) and then as a Counselor. After a brief hiatus, Galen returned as the Director of Student Life for 8 years and was appointed Camp Director in 2015.
Galen holds a B.S. in Education and Social Policy and a Minor in Music from Northwestern University, and a M.A in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. In addition to being Camp Director, Galen works as a Mental Health Therapist, primarily with adolescents and families. Galen is also an active cellist in the Portland music community.
As with most students who attend YMA, the summer program has been life-changing for Galen, and he is thrilled to pass the experience along to new generations of families. At camp, in addition to seeing him run around addressing parent questions, training the Counselor team, helping with facilities issues and supervising the Faculty, he is known to be a beast on the 4-Square Court. However, he sadly admits that he has never won the tournament.
Kevin Jackson
Director of camp operations
Kevin started at YMA after his first year in high school. He spent the next eight years as a CIT and cello counselor for session 1. After a brief time away he returned as an administrator in 2009. During camp he continues to work behind the scenes to help maintain and grow the YMA experience. Outside of camp he works as a freelance cellist; traveling across the country to play with various groups and bands. Occasionally, he has been known to teach in rare instances.
Jayce Tappert
Camp Nurse
Jayce came to YMA as a teen dancer in 1993. She then went on to be a counselor until 1997. As a young woman, YMA left an indelible mark on Jayce's heart and she longed for the day she could return!
After nursing school she went on to marry her amazing, always supportive husband Peter and together they have three children. She then got the opportunity to return to camp as camp nurse in 2012. She love-love-loves YMA and all that it brings and is ecstatic to share it with all three of her kiddos this year!
Jayce says being camp nurse is the best job ever!!!! — a little bit of nursing and a lot of just being a mom. Her office often becomes a refuge to those feeling homesick, and she is thankful that campers and faculty alike see her as "Camp Mom" as well as camp nurse.
Katie Loewen
Mental Health Support
Bio coming soon.
Darian Todd
Music Production coordinator
Darian Todd is a violist and educator, who has been performing and teaching in Arizona and Oregon since 2008. Darian serves as the Music Production Manager for Young Musicians and Artists, and is a member of the staff at the David Kerr Violin Shop in Portland, OR. Darian also conducts the Portland Chamber Strings and Portland Overture Strings ensembles with the wonderful musicians of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and maintains a private studio in NE Portland.
Performing highlights have included master class performances for Larry Dutton, Rebecca Fisher, and the Pacifica String Quartet, as well performing with various orchestras including The Vancouver Symphony, The Arizona Repertory Theatre, and the Portland Festival Symphony. Through partnerships with Young Musicians and Artists, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and local symphony orchestras, Mr. Todd works to initiate more active involvement of students and parents in the artistic communities where he teaches and performs, and advocates for the importance of music in our schools and communities at large.
Darian holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Music in Music Performance with an emphasis in Violin and Viola Pedagogy from the University of Oregon.