Support Art Education and Inspire Young Artists

Happy February! This month we look back on YoungArts’ signature program, National YoungArts Week, another successful annual Backyard Ball performance and gala, and look forward to our fast approaching regional programs in Miami, Los Angeles and New York.

YoungArts Week Recap

This year National YoungArts Week took place from January 7 – 13, 2018, where 166 of the nation’s most promising artists between the ages of 15-18 gathered in Miami to strengthen their craft. Performances took place all week long at the New World Symphony Center in Miami Beach and included voice, jazz, theater, dance, film screenings and a classical music ensemble, as well as writers’ readings and a visual arts exhibition. The winners attended master classes and workshops hosted by YoungArts alumni and highly regarded professionals in each discipline, including choreographer Nora Chipaumire, visual artist Teresita Fernandez and jazz musician, Jimmy Heath.

YoungArts Backyard Ball

On Saturday, January 13, 2018, the National YoungArts Foundation hosted its annual fundraiser in Miami, the Backyard Ball performance and gala, to help support the artistic development of the nation’s most promising young artists. Presented by Italian luxury brand Max Mara, chaired by Dr. Kira and Neil Flanzraich and emceed by WPLG-Local 10 News Anchor and Reporter Louis Aguirre, the evening honored Academy-Award winning playwright and YoungArts master teacher Tarell Alvin McCraney (1999 Winner in Theater) as the 2018 Arison Alumni Award recipient.

Guests enjoyed a series of inspiring alumni performances with artistic direction by Grammy Award winner Grace Weber (2006 Winner in Voice & U.S Presidential Scholar in the Arts) and featuring Thirdstory (Ben Lusher, 2010 Winner in Voice; Richard Saunders, 2008 Winner in Voice & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts; Elliott Skinner, 2013 Winner in Voice), Nadia Alexander (2012 Winner in Theater & U.S Presidential Scholar in the Arts), Amanda Krische (2012 Winner in Dance), Jasmine “Jaz” Sinclair (2012 Winner in Theater), Jose “BOY BOI” Tena (2012 Winner in Dance), Elliot Wuu (2017 Winner in Classical Music), and an all-star alumni jazz band led by four-time Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Gerald Clayton (2002 Winner in Jazz & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) with Braxton Cook (2010 Winner in Jazz), Julius Rodriguez (2014 Winner in Jazz), Zack Ostroff (2011 Winner in Jazz & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) and Benny Benack (2009 Winner in Jazz).

The evening concluded with the Backyard Bash after-party on the YoungArts Plaza with dancing and dessert under the stars, with music by legendary DJ and producer Arthur Baker.

The event raised more than $1.5M in support of YoungArts’ programs in Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Washington D.C., which offer aspiring young artists life-changing opportunities to work with leading artists in their fields, present their work to the public, and collaborate across disciplines.

YoungArts Miami (February 25 – 28, 2018)

At Miami Theater Center, the public will have the opportunity to experience a dance, theater and voice performance on Saturday, February 24, directed by Caleb Teicher (2011 Winner in Dance) in collaboration with Michael Benjamin Washington (1997 Winner in Theater & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), Macey Sullivan and India Carney (2011 Winner in Voice and Theater & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts); and on Sunday, February 25, a classical music concert directed by Dave Eggar (1987 Winner in Classical Music & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) in collaboration with composer Chuck Palmer and international performer, choreographer and educator Andrew Nemr (1997 Winner in Dance). On Friday, February 23, the public is invited to the YoungArts campus for a film screening, jazz performance and writers’ readings, along with the opening of a design, photography and visual arts exhibition curated by Rosie Gordon Wallace, on view until April 27. YoungArts Miami participants will also have the opportunity to learn from visual artists Loni Johnson and Robert Chambers, jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen (2009 Winner in Jazz), author and award-winning journalist Joan Morgan (who will also teach in Los Angeles and New York) and cinematographer Rick Delgado (1992 Winner in Cinematic Arts).

For more information on the calendar of events for YoungArts Miami please click here

YoungArts Los Angeles (March 24-29, 2018)

Presented in partnership with the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA, this year’s Los Angeles public offerings will include a jazz instrumental performance and writers’ readings on Monday, March 26; a classical music performance on Tuesday, March 27, directed by violinist Lina Bahn; and a multidisciplinary performance directed by master teacher and musical director Christian Hebel on Wednesday, March 28. On Sunday, March 25, a design, photography and visual arts exhibition curated by Jamillah James will open and remain on view until April 14 at Building Bridges. YoungArts Los Angeles participants will also have the opportunity to learn from Academy Award winning cinematographer Doug Blush (1984 Winner in Cinematic Arts), visual artist Mariah Garnett, Lucie Foundation Executive Director Cat Jimenez and distinguished jazz musician Dr. Ron McCurdy.

For more information on the calendar of events for YoungArts Los Angeles, please click here

YoungArts New York (April 24-29, 2018)

On the heels of the YoungArts New York Gala on Wednesday, April 18, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the regional program in New York City will kick off in partnership with Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC). On Saturday, April 28, a dance, jazz, theater and voice performance directed by YoungArts alumnus and Tony Award-winning musical director Michael Arden (2001 Winner in Theater & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) will be presented at BAC’s Jerome Robbins Theater, followed by a classical music performance led by acclaimed cellist Jeffrey Zeigler and writers’ readings on Sunday, April 29. A design, photography and visual arts exhibition will also be presented. Details to follow. YoungArts New York participants will also have the opportunity to learn from acclaimed visual artist Derrick Adams, jazz musician Adam Larson (2009 Winner in Jazz), photographer Lydia Bittner-Baird and screenwriter Shari Carpenter.

For more information on the calendar of events for YoungArts New York, please click here

Please see below for a comprehensive list of upcoming calendar dates for the season. Be sure to check our website at www.youngarts.org for the most up to date information on programs and events.

Regional Programs:

February 20 - 25, 2018 | YoungArts Miami

March 24 – 29, 2018 | YoungArts Los Angeles

April 24 - 29, 2018 | YoungArts New York

Alumni Programs:

April 2 – 7, 2018 | In Process: Homecoming with Ernest Baker

June 4 – 9, 2018 | In Process: Homecoming with Cat Garcia-Menocal