How the Monterey Jazz Festival Supports Music Education with Bobbie Young (Ep. 18)
A music festival can entertain thousands of people for a weekend, but what can it make possible for young musicians during the rest of the year?
In this episode, Kevin Richardson talks with Bobbie Young, Managing Director of the Monterey Jazz Festival, about the people, programs, and history behind the event. Bobbie shares how a nine-person year-round team grows dramatically during festival week, how volunteers help make the three-day event possible, and how music education reaches students locally and nationally.
They also explore how Monterey Jazz creates opportunities for young musicians, why the Women in Jazz Combo was created, and the surprising Monterey Fairgrounds connection to Jimi Hendrix’s famous 1967 performance.
Bobbie discusses:
- How a nine-person year-round team expands with staff and roughly 200 volunteers each festival day
- How Monterey Jazz supports young musicians through regional, community, and national education programs
- Why the Women in Jazz Combo gives young women from across the country another place to perform and grow
- How 13 local students received guitars, took eight weeks of lessons, and performed together afterward
- The Monterey Fairgrounds connection to Jimi Hendrix’s famous guitar-burning performance in 1967
- And more!
Resources:
- Buy Tickets: The 69th Monterey Jazz Festival (Sept. 25-27, 2026)
- From Stanford Baseball to Purpose-Driven Leadership: Scott Delucchi’s Unexpected Path (Ep. 17)
Connect with Kevin Richardson:
- Tactical Wealth Management
- LinkedIn: Kevin Richardson
- Email: krichardson@tacwealth.com
- Phone: (831) 717-1144
Connect with Bobbie Young:
About our Guest:
Bobbie Young joined the Monterey Jazz Festival in 2015 as Volunteer Coordinator, working with the team to streamline the program to provide a large group of consistent, well-trained, friendly volunteers. After two successful years in this role, Young was asked to come on full-time as the Community Engagement Manager and worked tirelessly to bring the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Education program to the forefront of the Monterey Bay area. This included working to provide a consistent wage-based summer performance schedule for our Regional High School All-Star Band members.
In 2021, Young became the Operations Manager of the festival and continued to improve the flow of the festival by bringing full-time staff and part-time festival staff together to create a seamless festival. Young has provided the leadership needed to keep the festival running smoothly for several years and was promoted to the Director of Operations in 2022. Her passion for organization and teamwork have proven to be the winning combination for the “behind the scenes” operations of the festival. Young is excited for this new adventure of Managing Director, working with a talented staff team to continue to present an iconic festival to the world.
Young holds an undergraduate degree in Sports Sciences from the University of Arizona, and a master’s degree in Organizational Management and Leadership from Springfield College in Massachusetts.
When asked what she wants to do when she retires, Young says she wants to adopt all the old dogs that no one will take and bring them home to live out their final days with love. Young also loves to play with her grandson, Otis.
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Kevin M. Richardson is a registered representative with, securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.
The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may be suitable for you, consult the appropriate qualified professional prior to making a decision.
LPL Financial Representatives offer access to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., an affiliate of LPL Financial.
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