YCA’s artists are the leaders of the future – stars who combine world-class talent with creative vision to bring new reach and relevance to the art form. For more than 60 years YCA has discovered extraordinary young musicians, providing them with the support, clarity, and confidence to tell their stories, as well as with the tools, opportunities, and infrastructure to take their careers to the highest level.

With a legacy of artistic excellence recognized around the world, YCA alumni include such luminaries as Emanuel Ax, Julia Bullock, Jeremy Denk, Ray Chen, Anne-Marie McDermott, Fazıl Say, Andrew Norman, Dawn Upshaw, Mason Bates, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Kevin Puts, Pinchas Zukerman, and many more.

YCA’s rigorous audition process ensures that only the most extraordinary musicians are chosen to join the YCA Artist Fellowship Program. This transformative three-year program takes artists to new levels of creative growth, offering them a holistic combination of digital tools, mentorship, project development, performance opportunities, and training in education and community engagement.

Presenting artists across multiple stages that include debut concerts in New York City and Washington, DC, YCA also procures performances at top venues around the globe. We help artists develop innovative programs ranging from core works to contemporary commissions, which are performed for industry leaders and media, opening doors and fostering key relationships that fundamentally change the trajectory of their careers.

YCA realizes that modern artists need to be more than simply gifted, highly-trained musicians – they must also be cultural ambassadors who share musical experiences that reflect the beauty and diversity of the world around them.