ACTRESS

Carol teamed up with YAA for our second PBS television special: HAL PRINCE’S BROADWAY

COMPOSER

Alan was Artist-in-Residence for YAA's 2020 production of Beauty and the Beast.

ACTOR & SINGER

Leslie invited YAA students to a private Q&A and a rehearsal of his concert tour.

ACTRESS & SINGER

Kristin requested our YAA students perform with her on her recent national tour.

COMPOSER & LYRICIST

Stephen was Artist in Residence for YAA's production of Children of Eden.

LYRICIST

Tim was Guest Narrator for YAA's stage and television production of The Circle of Life: The Songs of Tim Rice in Concert.

COMPOSER & LYRICIST

Andrew joined YAA as Artist-in-Residence for Big Fish as well as a Masterclass and performed with our students.

ACTRESS & SINGER

Patina joined YAA for a Masterclass and performed alongside our students.

COMPOSER & LYRICIST

Jason was Artist in Residence for YAA's production of Songs for a New World.

ACTOR & SINGER

Adam was Guest Artist and performed with our students in the The Circle of Life.

COMPOSER

Jeanine joined YAA for a Masterclass and Q&A.

PERFORMER

Michael hosted YAA for a Masterclass and invited a YAA student to perform alongside him in concert.

COMPOSER & LYRICIST

Steven joined YAA for a Masterclass and performed for our students.

PRINCIPAL CLARINET, NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC

Anthony joined YAA for a Clarinet Masterclass and Q&A for our instrumental students.

THEATRE & OPERA DIRECTOR

Alan directed YAA's production of Madama Butterfly & Miss Saigon.

ORCHESTRATOR, COMPOSER, & ARRANGER

Kim appeared with YAA as Guest Narrator and Orchestrator for Jekyll & Hyde in Concert.

ACTOR & SINGER

Matthew performed alongside our YAA students at the Strathmore Spring Gala.

ACTOR & DIRECTOR

Kevin directed YAA’s production of AIDA.

THEATRE & OPERA DIRECTOR

Noah directed YAA's productions of Children of Eden and Into the Woods.

ACTRESS & SINGER

Shoshana performed alongside our YAA students at Strathmore’s Spring Gala.

“I want to thank this absolutely extraordinary company of artists, musicians, singers, and actors. Participation in Young Artists of America is enormously valuable, obviously because you are forced to up your game, and you're working with other people who are raising the level of their game. You're confronting material that you might not be that familiar with. Thanks especially to Rolando and Kristofer Sanz for their for their magnificent work with these extraordinary kids.”

“I just finished watching clips of your HAL PRINCE’S BROADWAY program, and I am blown away by your talent. Hal Prince was a dear friend of mine, and he would be so inspired by your incredible performances. So keep “doing the work” and making Hal proud!”

“I would like to thank the people who've contributed to THE CIRCLE OF LIFE this evening. Apart from the superb artists, I should thank Rolando and Kristofer Sanz in the production, vocal arrangement and conducting departments. The show has been put together lovingly by Rolando, Kris and Hugh, and all these wonderful artists, young and not so young. I'm very grateful to them all.”

“There’s no cause dearer to my heart than the education of young musicians. Music is what gave me a direction and a reason to wake up in the morning when I was a teenager, and anything that gives young people encouragement and training to be musicians, as Young Artists of America does so beautifully, is something I want to be a part of.

Rolando and Kristofer Sanz began Young Artists of America three years ago, bringing together the finest young musicians and actors in the Washington DC corridor, and by the time they reached out to me about doing a concert of SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD I had already heard about the amazing work they’d been doing.

Nothing is more satisfying to me than watching young people get inspired by the kind of music I love, and nothing makes me happier than conducting big orchestras, so I signed on immediately. I had a sensational weekend in the Washington DC area, with some incredible young performers and some truly inspiring mentors and teachers. I can’t wait to go back!”

“Thank you Rolando and Kris and Young Artists of America for taking such incredible care with BIG FISH. I don’t know if I’ll ever get the opportunity again to hear a score of mine translated to full orchestra in that way. It was so deeply moving and thrilling for me and I hope the students and their families felt similarly.

Your work with these young people is astonishing! I’m so grateful to be a small part of it. I look forward to our next one together!”

“It's remarkable how far Young Artists of America has come in the five years since its inception, but not surprising given the talents and abilities of Rolando and Kristofer Sanz. What an invaluable organization, and how much it gives to its students! I had a wonderful time working with the students I saw, all wonderfully talented, eager and so willing to learn. Bravo, YAA! Any time you want me back, I'm yours!”

“When I first walked in for rehearsal today with YAA, I looked at this orchestra and I said: 'Wait...they're all kids?? You've gotta me kidding me!' And then I heard them, and I was absolutely floored. I just want to thank and acknowledge Kristofer and Rolando Sanz for putting together this incredible evening for all of these kids. Do you know how many people would do this for your kids?....ZERO! These guys are incredible and I'm so amazed at what they've done!”