Education & Community Engagement

YCA artists advise students interested in/serious about music performance, possibly even interested in pursuing a career in music performance. Sessions may include essay review, resume review, interview preparation, mock auditions, etc. Suitable for skilled instrumentalists in high school from non-musical backgrounds. We are looking to partner with public schools/public charter schools with instrumental music classes, community music programs, and youth orchestras.

YCA artists coach young instrumentalists in a public/private setting. Masterclasses may focus on either solo or chambermusic repertoire. Suitable for skilled instrumentalists of all grade levels. We are looking to partner with NYC public schools/public charter schools with instrumental music classes, community music programs, and youth orchestras.

Students and their families are invited to our season concerts in New York City and Washington, DC, and this complimentary ticket offer is paired with a pre-concert in-school presentation (PCISP) from a YCA artist. During the PCISP, our artists focus on introducing repertoire that the students will hear at the season concert. They share historical information about the composer/piece and guide the students’ listening, giving them musical elements to focus on in each work. This model allows students to foster a deeper connection to and understanding of the music that they will hear at the seasonconcert and creates a more accessible and enjoyable concert experience. Suitable for all grade and experience levels. We are looking to partner with public schools/public charter schools with general music programs and/or instrumental music classes, public schools/public charter schools without music programs, community music programs, and youth orchestras.

Three classroom teaching sessions, each led by one YCA artist, culminating in a participatory school concert featuring all three artists. Mini residencies are meant to enhance and build upon what is already happening in the classroom and achieve any learning goals outlined by the classroom/music teacher. Suitable for all grade and experience levels. We are looking to partner with NYC public schools/public charter schools with general music programs and/or instrumental music classes, NYC public schools/public charter schools without music programs, and community music programs.

The year-long program (YLP) brings YCA artists into classrooms and auditoriums, introducing students to classical music through high-level performance experiences. Programming and school visit schedules vary by location, as outlined below.

New York City
Programming includes an introduction to composers from the romantic period and a collection of artist-created projects. YCA artists will make in-person visits to partner schools once a month for 7 months (from November to May). Each partner school will be paired with two YCA artists, one per semester. The year-long partnership will culminate in a highly participatory school concert at Merkin Hall at the Kaufman Music Center in May 2025. Suitable for upper elementary students. We are looking to partner with NYC public schools, in all five boroughs, with no current music programming.

Washington, DC
Programming includes an introduction to composers from the classical period. YCA artists will make in-person visits to partner schools once a month for 4 months (from January to April), and the program will culminate in a highly participatory school concert in May 2025. Suitable for upper elementary students. We are looking to partner with DC public schools with no current music programming.

YCA artists develop their own education or community engagement project during their time on the roster. YCA’s goal is to guide and inspire artists to find the most effective ways to engage with various communities in NYC and Washington, DC.