New Year, New Winners
YoungArts welcomed in 2012 with the annual YoungArts Week!

Of this year’s 597 national winners, 152 Finalists came to Miami for YoungArts Week to be recognized for their excellence in the visual, literary and performing arts. These Finalists represented the top 3% of our applicants in nine artistic disciplines from world dance to woodwinds; from non-fiction writing to jazz trumpet.

During YoungArts Week, all Finalists participated in master classes with internationally renowned artists, workshops, interdisciplinary activities, performances and exhibitions. We hope you were able to join us here in Miami, or via our livestream.

Thank you to all the sponsors, partners, and everyone that made this week possible: Carnival Corporation & PLC, The Coca-Cola Company, The Miami Herald, Miami Downtown Development Authority, Steinway & Sons, WLRN-FM, 101.5 LITE-FM WLYF, Canon Business Solutions, Wells Fargo, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Youth Arts Enrichment Program, and the Festivals Grant, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and The Children’s Trust. 

If you missed the performances, don’t worry! You can watch them again here.

Grace Weber, 2006 YoungArts Winner in Voice, U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts and President of the YoungArts Alumni Association, and Tyler Rabinowitz, 2011 YoungArts Winner in Cinematic Arts, captured the behind-the-scenes at YoungArts Week! See the interviews, clips and Finalist jam sessions, here.

For photos, visit our Tumblr page.

Thanks for celebrating our 2012 YoungArts Winners.

An Affair of the Arts

On Saturday January 14, nearly 800 attendees celebrated this year’s YoungArts winners at An Affair of the Arts Performance and Gala. The evening began outside the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, where guests were greeted with street performances and cocktails courtesy of GREY GOOSE® Vodka. The alumni performance took place inside  the theater and included an awards ceremony to celebrate the evening’s three honorees, Robert Redford, Doug Aitken and Robert L. Lynch.

Following the performance, guests enjoyed a treat-filled silent auction, dinner and dancing at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami. The sold-out event raised nearly $1 million in essential funds for America’s best and brightest young artists in the visual, literary and performing arts.

Thank you to all of our guests, underwriters and sponsors that made this event possible.

Presenting Sponsor – SunTrust

Miami Magazine
Grey Goose Vodka
The Collection
Heys USA

Master Teachers

This year we hosted an array of notable master teachers throughout YoungArts Week. Our Finalists were able to meet, ask questions, and learn from some prominent artists in their field. Master teachers included Campbell McGrath (writing), Jean Shin (visual arts), Shelly Berg (jazz), Jon Secada (voice), Jacques d’Amboise (dance), Malcolm Gets (theater), Mitchell Kaplan (writing), John Dufresne (writing), Dana Schutz (visual arts) and Debi Mazar (theater/cinematic arts).

We also thank the following masters for sharing their expertise with all of the YoungArts Finalists:

Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts, for working with all of the Finalists on a special session on arts advocacy;

Robert Redford, for encouraging the young artists to find their own voice, no matter what discipline they choose, or artistic path they follow; and

Bill T. Jones, who emphasized the importance and value of interdisciplinary artistic experiences.

For photos, visit our tumblr page, here.

Looking Ahead

In an effort to offer the YoungArts experience to a greater number of deserving young artists in the visual, literary and performing arts, all YoungArts winners from the South Florida and Greater New York City area, are invited to participate in YoungArts Miami and YoungArts New York, respectively.

These young artists will enjoy the rare opportunity to take master classes and interdisciplinary workshops from world-renowned artists, including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bill T. Jones, Michael Tilson Thomas, Edward Villella, Maria Martinez-Cañas, Daniel Arsham, Roberto Juarez, Adam Rapp, Bill Irwin and others in a variety of artistic disciplines, and will perform and exhibit their works at cultural venues in Miami and New York City. The YoungArts Miami and YoungArts New York experiences are in addition to the recognition, monetary awards and college scholarship opportunities that YoungArts winners receive, as well as continued support and artistic development afforded to them as YoungArts Alumni. YoungArts Miami and YoungArts New York are part of a plan to expand the YoungArts reach and impact through Regional Programs.

YoungArts Miami  / February 22-26, 2012

REGISTRATION REQUIRED for all events. Click here for ticket and RSVP information.

Thursday, February 23, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Cinematic Arts, Photography and Visual Arts Exhibition Opening
ARTSEEN, 2215 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami
Gallery Hours extended to Saturday, February 25 and Sunday, February 26, 1-6 p.m.

Friday, February 24, 6 p.m. YoungArts Miami Performance* Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

Sunday, February 26, 5:30 p.m. YoungArts Miami Performance* New World Center (NWC), 500 17th Street, Miami Beach

*These two performances feature different groups of YoungArts winners, the best in the nation in cinematic arts, dance, jazz, music, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing.

YoungArts New York / March 8-11, 2012 RSVP required by February 20 to (212) 905-6034.

Thursday, March 8, 2012
3:30 p.m. (BAC) The Honorable Kate D. Levin, Commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs - Welcome
7 p.m. (BAC) YoungArts at BAC
An evening of short works, selected by Mikhail Baryshnikov, that showcases the diversity and excellence of YoungArts New York winners. Seating limited, reservations required.

Friday, March 9, 2012 9 a.m. (BAC) Winners Check in
9:30 a.m. (BAC) Welcome
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (BAC/AA) Master Classes
6-7 p.m.  (AA) Winners' Art Exhibition/Cinematic Arts Screening

Saturday, March 10, 2012
9 a.m. (BAC) Winners Check in
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (BAC/AA)  Master Classes

Sunday, March 11, 2012
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. (BAC)  Ralph Lemon Workshop
2-3 p.m. (BAC) Ralph Lemon/Student Multi-Disciplinary Performance
Choreographer Ralph Lemon and the 2012 YoungArts New York winners will create a "built piece" collaboratively that embraces visual arts, classical and jazz instruments, vocal performance, creative writing, musical theater and filmmaking.

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC)
450 West 37th Street
New York, NY 10018

Affirmation Arts (AA)
523 West 37th Street
New York, NY 10018

Sounds of YoungArts

The best and the brightest young artists come through our program – and we want to share them with you! We are excited to announce our inaugural Sounds of YoungArts CD, featuring 17 talented YoungArts alumni.

This project is supported by HeysUSA.

Order here today!

Where are They Now

+Viola Davis, 1983 YoungArts Winner in Theater, is a nominee for the 84th Academy Awards. Davis’ role as Abilene Clark in the popular film The Help has won her great recognition. This is her first Lead Actress nomination.  Read more.

+Chris Young, 2003 YoungArts Winner in Voice, has received nominations for two big awards from the Academy of Country Music. He is nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of Year for his smash hit Tomorrow. His career has gained much momentum in the past 12 months - after picking up a Grammy nod and CMA New Artist of the Year award,  it comes as no surprise his music continues to receive great recognition.  Read more

+Lucas Leyva, 2005 YoungArts Winner in Writing and Andrew Hevia, 2003 YoungArts Winner in Writing, are both recognized in The Miami Herald for the short film Life and Freaky Times of Uncle Luke. This short, written by Leyva, proved to be successful at the Sundance Film Festival and has drawn attention from MTV, The Huffington Post, and Indiewire.com. After the initial screening of Uncle Luke, Leyva and his group have been approached by executives and producers interested in developing a TV series based in South Florida.  Read more.

+Kenyon Adams, 1999 Winner in Theater and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, starred in Lucky Life, a film about a group of close friends who travel to a remote beach with their friend Jason as he battles cancer. The film was an Official Selection of the Tribeca Film Festival and you can watch it now, for free, on HULU! Read more.

Applications for the 2013 YoungArts program open on March 13, 2012!

Help us continue to invest in a future rich in culture by investing in the future generation of talented young artists. Learn how.

Have a question about our program or events? Call (305) 377-1140 or email us at communication@youngarts.org

// June 17, 2012
U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts 2012 / Exhibition and Writer's Readings

Smithsonian American Art Museum
Washington, D.C.

// June 18, 2012
U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts 2012 / Performance

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Concert Hall Arts Center 
Washington, D.C.

The Arts Matter

It has been a few weeks since YoungArts Week 2012, but I still am reliving the sounds, images and the vicarious feelings of inspiration and joy that our Finalists experienced as they showcased their talents and accomplishments – and worked with great master teachers and fellow young artists – in Miami. I am proud to say that this year all of these gifted young artists enjoyed the rare opportunity to explore their artistic visions with Robert Redford and Bill T. Jones, and had the chance to study with such master teachers as Jacques d’Amboise, John Secada and Debi Mazar, and to share their passion for their respective artistic disciplines. Additionally, we hosted, for the first time, a special arts advocacy session with Americans for the Arts’ president and CEO, Robert L. Lynch. These experiences go beyond artistic enrichment, and into the realm of “once in a lifetime” opportunities.  These “life-changing” experiences are unique to YoungArts and undoubtedly will make their indelible mark on the imaginations of these young artists as they continue on their journey to successful artistic careers. 

This year we had the privilege of being able to take advantage of the state-of-the-art New World Center, which was established to bridge the generations through arts education and mentorship.  We are fortunate that we can look forward to working with the New World Center to be the host site of future YoungArts events, including this month's YoungArts Miami programs (February 22-26).

We are excited about bringing the YoungArts experience to greater numbers of deserving young artists through our Regional Programs, where winners at all levels in a particular region are invited to participate. YoungArts Miami, and YoungArts New York (scheduled for March 8-11) are part of our organization’s national expansion and program growth, and plans are in the works for future Regional Programs around the nation. 

In the spirit of continuing to follow our mission to identify the most talented young artists in the nation, and to broaden our impact, we also are expanding the age range of application eligibility.  Applicants must be, as of December 1, 2012, 15-18 years old or in high school grades 10, 11 or 12.  Because we know that artistic talent matures at different rates for different disciplines, and young artists may hit their “peak” at varying ages, we are eager to identify and recognize a wider age range of young artists.  Our new application cycle opens on March 13.

As I reflect upon the extraordinary presentations we experienced by our Finalists and look ahead to whom may have the opportunity to showcase their talent on this stage in the future, I reaffirm my deep seated belief that art matters.

Paul T. Lehr

Executive Director

Sponsor Spotlight
 

We are proud to recognize SunTrust Bank for its longstanding and generous support of the YoungArts program and again as the Presenting Sponsor of the annual An Affair of the Arts, Performance and Gala, held on January 14.

SunTrust believes that corporate philanthropy in the areas of culture and art, civic and community, health and human services, and education is essential to the growth of our community. Its ongoing contributions and community development in these areas are evidence of its belief in this corporate commitment.

We salute SunTrust for its generous and steadfast commitment to the YoungArts mission for more than 20 years and its belief in inspiring and encouraging America’s outstanding young aspiring artists.

Extra!

YoungArts has collaborated with some leading cultural organizations these past few months, and we want to share!

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) North Miami hosted six YoungArts winners who participated in YoungArts’ MASTERCLASS, the series that aired on HBO and was Emmy-nominated in its first season, for an exhibition that celebrated their explorations during their time spent with master teacher Bruce Weber. This exhibition featured YoungArts alumni Michael Beuttler, Adam ‘Cosmo’ Brobjorg, Ilana Goldmeier, Devon Leaver, Yasmin Naylor and Grace Samson. Saturday, January 21, 2012. See photos, here. 

The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) hosted an event with special guests Caroline Kennedy and Julie Kent highlighting the work of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and YoungArts. YoungArts provided musical performances from their alumni: Grace Weber (2006, Voice), Kate Davis (2009, Jazz), Julian Pollack (2006, Jazz) and Ben Pila (2002, Music). Special thanks to Northern Trust for hosting this special event. See photos, here.