Young Artists of America at Strathmore

Trumpet camp only:
Counselors are unprofessional, they are not passionate, and they lack any respect for the students. They have not yet acquired the teaching skills needed to teach such a class without wasting time. I advise choosing a summer camp that will actually help students advance with their music theory and trumpet. I would not be writing this if I did not care as much as I do about future campers. The camp has deeply upset my kids and I don't want any other campers/parents to go through that in the future.

Thank You To Those Who Understand,
Remaining Anonymous

My daughter participated in the overnight conservatory and I found the YAA SPAI program to be executed wonderfully from beginning to end. I appreciated the user-friendly web page, which clearly lays out registration and program information. On day one, students arrived with a positive energy equally matched by the YAA team. Alumni returned to help out, which enhanced the student experience ten-fold. The on-site parent liaison eased my mind tremendously. The summer intensive was intense. My daughter loved that there were opportunities built into the schedule to let loose and reset. I know that she enjoyed every waking (and sleeping) moment. It all came together in a professional and quality production, an awesome experience!

Over the past six years, I’ve found YAA designs student-centered and incredibly thoughtful programming, particularly during Covid. They set high standards for the students, and through meticulous planning and execution, they create a stress-free environment to achieve them. None of it happens without securing the best professionals to work with the students. YAA’s leadership, mission, and values consistently attract phenomenal teachers and collaborators. My daughter is challenged to work hard and she is nurtured just as hard by the YAA team.

In the past ten years, this organization has given wings and inspiration to a great many talent young people. The alumni include actors and musicians on stages and in orchestras across the nation. Take this opportunity to catch the current crop of local talent in their production of Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA on the Strathmore stage April 3rd.

I first discovered YAA by attending performances at Strathmore and was blown away by the amazing talent and professional caliber of the shows. Fast forward a few years and my daughter's love of musical theater brought her to YAA -- I can't say enough good things about the experiences she has had, the confidence she has gained, and the friends that she has made. It's truly a life-changing experience and I am beyond amazed at the dedication, passion, and energy that the YAA leadership and instructors bring to everything. I feel so fortunate that I have gotten to enjoy this organization and now have my daughter participate in it.

Our daughter is a newcomer to the YAA program. The incredible quality of the performances and the obvious skill of the directors to bring out the very best in young talent is what drew us to YAA in the first place. We have been very impressed with the inclusiveness and professionalism of everyone involved. Our daughter has gained a new maturity in her artistry and as an individual in just a few short weeks. Best of all, she says she's having a wonderful time. She made new friends the very first day and looks forward to every rehearsal. This is such a positive, affirming experience for everyone. We are so happy we found YAA.

The greatest joy in attending the annual YAA full-scale performance is to be overwhelmed by the amazing quality of all the students participating, whether singing on stage or in the chorus, acting, dancing, or playing instruments. We all have favorite moments, and mine was the production of Les Miserables. For me it was the artistic performance of the year, as it totally transcended what I thought a youth group could achieve. That not only reflected the ability of the Sanz brothers to bring out the best in the students, but to see/hear and recognize what sheer talents our students have. Go to see a YAA performance and be astonished!

As a parent, I can not say enough good things about YAA and their summer program. YAA lives its mission and the community, experience, and performances are off the charts. We are beyond grateful that our child has been able to be a part of this incredible organization. Life changing.