The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is committed to fostering the growth of young artists. As partners with YoungArts, the Kennedy Center is providing opportunities for YoungArts alumni to participate in Kennedy Center professional development programs. For each program listed below (unless noted otherwise), YoungArts alumni are encouraged to apply and become eligible to be chosen as YoungArts Alumni fellows – which includes all expenses-paid. Each program has distinct application rules. You must apply directly to the program via the Kennedy Center. To be eligible to become a YoungArts fellow, your application must be completed by the deadline, and you must submit your name (name-only, applications will only be accepted by the Kennedy Center program you are applying to) as a candidate to alumni@youngarts.org.

Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell 

A three-week summer ballet intensive for pre-professional dancers led by legendary ballerina Suzanne Farrell, an authority on the Balanchine style.

Audition Applications Deadline / December 21, 2012

Eligibility Requirements /

• You must be 14-18 years old during the program (July 29-August 17, 2013)
• Intermediate and advance dancers will be accepted
• You need to have at least five years of ballet training including four years on pointe for young women.

Website / http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/farrell/

National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute 

An intensive, four-week summer program in which young musicians engage directly with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Application Deadline / February 8, 2013

Eligibility Requirements /

• You must be 15-20 years old

Website / http://www.kennedy-center.org/smi/

Washington National Opera (WNO) Opera Institute 

A three-week summer program where outstanding classical singers study in a professional and nurturing environment.

Deadline to Schedule Live Audition / January 25, 2013

Eligibility Requirements /

• You must be 15-18 years old

Website / http://www.kennedy-center.org/wno/edu/operainstitute/

Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival

A national theater program created to inspire and promote academic theater from around the nation.

You cannot apply to this program. Alumni selected for this opportunity will be contacted directly.

Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead  

Identifies outstanding, emerging jazz artists and brings them together under the tutelage of experienced artist-instructors led by Jason Moran.

Application Deadline / The deadline for this program has passed. Stay tuned for next year’s dates.

Eligibility Requirements /

• Serious U.S. and international jazz musicians in their mid-teens to age twenty-five are invited to apply.

Website / http://www.kennedy-center.org/jazzahead