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Artistry. Excellence. Mentorship.


Artistry. Excellence. Mentorship.

The only program of its kind, Young Artists of America® presents symphonic theatrical productions featuring young performing artists from the Greater Washington, DC area alongside professional mentors.

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Artistry. Excellence. Mentorship.


Artistry. Excellence. Mentorship.

The only program of its kind, Young Artists of America® presents symphonic theatrical productions featuring young performing artists from the Greater Washington, DC area alongside professional mentors.

WELCOME TO YAA

Young Artists of America® (YAA) trains young performing artists (grade 5-12 through pre-professional) in collaboration with leading, professional artists to present fully-orchestrated productions at state-of-the-art venues like our home stage at the Music Center at Strathmore.

Our productions have won numerous awards, including a Regional Emmy; we’ve received the follow accolades over the years:

Best Youth Music Program
Bethesda Magazine’s Best of Bethesda Readers Poll 2020

Best Summer Camp 2019, 2020, 2021*
Washington City Paper’s Best of DC

Best Performing Arts Education for Young Artists
MD Theater Guide 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards

One of the Best Nonprofits
Catalogue for Philanthropy

Platinum Transparency 2022
Candid

*2021 - Third Place


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I want to thank this absolutely extraordinary company of artists, musicians, singers, and actors.
— STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, Grammy & Oscar Award Winning Composer, Lyricist & YAA Mentor
 
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Master Excellence.


Master Excellence.

The premier performing arts training organization in the region, preparing students to take the stage. 

 

 

Master Excellence.


Master Excellence.

The premier performing arts training organization in the region, preparing students to take the stage. 

 

 

 

about us


With campuses around the Washington, DC area, Young Artists of America® (YAA) trains the next generation of young performing artists.

With programs in instrumental music and musical theatre, students of all levels from school-age through pre-professional, benefit from the top notch instruction from our world-class teaching artists. From our one-of-a-kind Mentorship Program with leading professional artists, to essential performing arts classes in acting, dance, college prep, and voice, to performance ensemble opportunities at state-of-the-art venues like our home stage at Strathmore, we offer a unique experience like no other in the nation.

We are thrilled to be part of the 2021-22 Catalogue for Philanthropy, and to be recognized as one of the best nonprofits in the DC Metro region.

YAA Students performing with ADAM PASCAL in The Circle of Life: The Songs of Tim Rice in Concert - 2017

YAA Students performing with ADAM PASCAL in The Circle of Life: The Songs of Tim Rice in Concert - 2017

Founded and led by brothers Rolando and Kristofer Sanz, Young Artists of America’s goal is to provide gifted and committed students unique performance and educational opportunities in a professional, nurturing and collaborative environment.


Music is what gave me a direction and a reason to wake up in the morning when I was a teenager, and anything that gives young people encouragement and training to be musicians, as Young Artists of America does so beautifully, is something I want to be a part of.
— JASON ROBERT BROWN, Tony Award Winning Broadway Composer, Lyricist & YAA Mentor

AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM

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2019 Readers’ Choice Award Winner for Best Performing Arts Education for Young Artists from MD Theatre Guide

2019 Readers’ Choice Award Winner for Best Performing Arts Education for Young Artists from MD Theatre Guide

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Summer Intensives


Summer with YAA

Train for up to five weeks with the region’s top performing arts faculty in a rigorous, inspirational, summer camp experience.

Choose either our daytime Academy or overnight Conservatory to learn technique, increase confidence, and grow as a performing artist this summer!

 

Summer Intensives


Summer with YAA

Train for up to five weeks with the region’s top performing arts faculty in a rigorous, inspirational, summer camp experience.

Choose either our daytime Academy or overnight Conservatory to learn technique, increase confidence, and grow as a performing artist this summer!

 

 

2023 summer Performing Arts intensives


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Voted as one of the BEST SUMMER CAMPs by Washington City Paper Reader's Poll again and again, our Summer Performing Arts Intensives (SPAI) offer a rigorous and inspirational environment for elementary school, middle school, high school, and college students interested in growing their musical theatre or instrumental music skills from the region's top performing arts faculty!


 
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News


what's new?

Check out our blog to stay up-to-date!

News


what's new?

Check out our blog to stay up-to-date!

latest news at yaa


YAA Student, Mateo Ferro, with the visionary Lin-Manuel Miranda, while in rehearsals for the Kennedy Center's production of IN THE HEIGHTS.

YAA Student, Mateo Ferro, with the visionary Lin-Manuel Miranda, while in rehearsals for the Kennedy Center's production of IN THE HEIGHTS.

YAA Student, Sam Nasar, performs on stage with musical legend, Michael Feinstein at Strathmore.

YAA Student, Sam Nasar, performs on stage with musical legend, Michael Feinstein at Strathmore.

Our production won an EMMY Award at the Regional EMMY Awards on June 23rd, 2018!

Our production won an EMMY Award at the Regional EMMY Awards on June 23rd, 2018!

We chat with YAA Alum, Chani Wereley about what it’s like to be a professional working actor.

We chat with YAA Alum, Chani Wereley about what it’s like to be a professional working actor.

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Reach the stars.


Reach the stars.

Our one-of-a-kind Mentorship Program brings professional performers from Broadway and around the world to work with our students.

Reach the stars.


Reach the stars.

Our one-of-a-kind Mentorship Program brings professional performers from Broadway and around the world to work with our students.

our MENTORSHIP PROGRAM


Mentors Kristen Chenoweth and Mary-Micchell Campbell with our students after performance.

Mentors Kristen Chenoweth and Mary-Micchell Campbell with our students after performance.

The cornerstone of Young Artists of America® is its unique Mentorship Program where students work alongside major leading performing artists from national and regional stages as well as leading university programs. Past mentors have included Alan Menken, Kristen Chenoweth, Stephen Schwartz, Jason Robert Brown, and more.

Learn about our recent mentors as well as Masterclasses and Workshops with current mentors. 

Performing in front of Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin) in rehearsals and at Strathmore was the most thrilling experience.
— Young Artist of America Student
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Donate Now


MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE.

We set an ambitious goal to raise $100,000 by June 30, 2022 and we need your support. Your donation is fully tax-deductible and will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000 thanks to our angel donors!

Donate Now


MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE.

We set an ambitious goal to raise $100,000 by June 30, 2022 and we need your support. Your donation is fully tax-deductible and will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000 thanks to our angel donors!

EVERY DOLLAR MATCHED.


If you would like to invest in our mission of providing the youth in our community with powerful musical opportunities — filled with artistry, excellence, and mentorship — we invite you to join our “YAA’s Next Decade” fundraising campaign going on now until thru June 30, 2022 to honor YAA’s 10th anniversary season!

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Speak into the mic.


Speak into the mic.

Reach out to us anytime by phone, email or social media! We want to hear from you!

 

Speak into the mic.


Speak into the mic.

Reach out to us anytime by phone, email or social media! We want to hear from you!

 


Plant your feet on the stage and act like you own it, because you do.
— Rolando Sanz, Co-Founder