Alumni Portal

Kat is currently the assistant vocal director for Young Artists of America, along with being a proud alumna! She graduated from James Madison University with her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Education. Kat spends her days as a high school Chorus Teacher in Montgomery County, MD and her nights as a free-lance music director, accompanist, and conductor in the DMV area.

Anthony has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Trombone performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, a Master’s from University of Michigan, and a Doctorate from Boston University. AHe has appeared with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic, and Qatar Philharmonic, as well as in the pit at the North Shore Music Theater.

Wesley is an opera and musical theater performer based out of Chicago and Washington D.C. He has performed across the United States and internationally with companies such as Teatro Nuovo, Charlottesville Opera, and the Shakespeare Opera Theatre.

Vinny recently graduated from Suffolk University and works as a freelance director and actor. He also teaches on YAA’s faculty during our Summer Performing Arts Intensives.

Edima Essien recently graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park as a Creative and Performing Arts Scholar in the Bachelor of the Arts Theatre program, minoring in Arts Leadership. She currently works as YAA’s Alumni and Outreach Coordinator.

Madi is currently in her first year studying Musical Theatre at New York University.

Jamie is a Broadway producer. Recent credits: Grey House, A Doll's House (Tony nom), The Secret Garden @ LA's Ahmanson Theatre, The Kite Runner, A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet, and Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Tony nom). She also serves on the board of directors for Young Artists of America.

Aliya is a senior at Williams College and is majoring in Political Economy and Religion. She is a former director of the Williams College sketch comedy club Frosh Revue, and she has played viola in the pit orchestra of three schoolwide productions so far. Her passions include musical theatre and comedy, which have led her to be a part of many production and directing teams.

Robert recently graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Acting. He has appeared as Mark in Rent and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors with Connecticut Repertory Theatre.

Cassie currently teaches music at The Goddard School in Maryland and has degrees in Early Childhood Education from Ashworth College and Montgomery College.

Brenna is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Opera at McGill University. Previously she worked as an Events and Production Operations Specialist after earning her Bachelor’s degree in Voice from James Madison University.

Julia is a New York City based actor and singer. Recent credits include HBO's Gossip Girl, Indie Thriller, Bruh.mp4 (Amazon Prime) and Infernal: A Rock Musical (directed by Alex Sanchez). Other performing credits include Symphony Space, Juilliard's Paul Hall and The Kennedy Center.

Samantha Bloom Yakaitis is a junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program at Manhattan Marymount College, where she has appeared as Tricia Nixon in First Daughter Suite.

Cheryl is a senior at Carnegie Mellon University pursuing a Bachelor of Humanities and the Arts in Humanities Analytics and Flute Performance with an additional major in French & Francophone Studies and a minor in Human Computer Interaction.