This week, 2025 YoungArts winners will come together in Los Angeles, CA for YoungArts Lab: Los Angeles. In April, they will gather in New York City for YoungArts Lab: New York. These immersive programs, led by a diverse team of professional artists, are designed to encourage experimentation through collaborative artmaking, interactive exercises, and interdisciplinary discussions. During the Labs, artists will explore principles to strengthen their artistic practices and expand their connection to the broader arts ecosystem. We spoke with last year’s winners to reflect on their transformative experiences at the Labs.
Shyam Thandullu (2024 Jazz) – YoungArts Lab: New York
“When I first received an invitation to participate in YoungArts Lab: New York, I felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty about what the program entailed. I was certainly eager for the opportunity to meet new people and expand my network but also quite nervous as I had no idea what to expect. Originally, I wasn’t sure if I was going to accept the invitation, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to put myself out there and try new things. Choosing to go led to one of the most educational, enriching and fun experiences I have been a part of.
The Lab focused on the life and legacy of the legendary jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong. To learn more about him and his life, we took a field trip to the Louis Armstrong House and Museum in Queens. As a musician who primarily practices in the jazz idiom, this was a dream come true. It was incredibly inspiring to see where and how Armstrong lived, the impact he had on the community and people around him and all of the archives of original scores and recordings created by Armstrong himself. After returning from this trip, we were asked to create an interdisciplinary artistic medium that represented Armstrong’s life, what the concept of “home” meant to him and what it means to us. Most of us were new to working outside of our disciplines, but with experimentation, communication, and guidance from the amazing YoungArts staff (shoutout to Chanel DaSilva, Jake Goldbas and Jax Neal), we created something amazing. While our final product might not have been perfect, everyone in the group certainly learned a lot, and I think that in itself is a beautiful thing.
This program changed my outlook on what I want to do in my professional career. I always thought that I would only be working with other musicians, but this program opened my eyes to all of the possibilities and opportunities that present themselves when you work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary setting. To any future YoungArts winner invited to one of these programs, I strongly urge you to go! As long as you put yourself out there, keep your mind open and do your best, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.”
David Lin (2024 Classical Music) – YoungArts Lab: Los Angeles
“When I received the invitation to the Lab, I was ecstatic. Winning YoungArts for the first time and knowing how exclusive the opportunity was made me eager to participate, primarily to make new friends. It would soon become a defining moment in my journey as a harpist.
Arriving at Plaza de la Raza, a place rich in history, art, and culture, YoungArts greeted us with incredible hospitality, ensuring we were well-fed and taken care of. Every day was filled with unique museums, presentations and performances that allowed us to reflect and explore different forms of art. A significant night was spent at the UCLA Nimoy Theater, witnessing performances by fellow YoungArts alumni. The sheer talent and career paths shared by the presenters was inspiring. Being able to call ourselves YoungArts winners along with these exceptional artists made me feel honored.
One of the highlights of the program was our visit to Luna Luna, a museum that took art to an entirely different level. Despite knowing little about it beyond Drake’s involvement, the museum’s blend of eeriness and nostalgia evoked a wide range of emotions. I had come into the Lab expecting intensive training, but I came out of it feeling refreshed as an artist like I had gone to a retreat for artists. I got to revisit the meaning behind art and why we do what we do as artists.
Raised in an environment where STEM fields were prioritized, the arts often felt undervalued. However, the Lab offered me a sense of community that had been elusive for so long. Despite the brief time we spent together, a diverse group of artists, poets, photographers, dancers, and musicians united to create projects that transcended classical music norms. This collaboration allowed me to incorporate multimedia, explore the relationship between music, art, and technology and push the boundaries of traditional harp performance. YoungArts opened my mind to new disciplines and the possibilities of collaboration with other artists. As a harpist, my opportunities for collaboration have traditionally been limited to orchestras. However, the Lab showcased what could be achieved, inspiring me to explore and integrate new artistic expressions in my future work.”
Camila Quintero (2023, 2024 Voice) – YoungArts Lab: Los Angeles
“In February 2024, I was given the opportunity to attend YoungArts Lab: Los Angeles where I spent four days meeting other YoungArts winners, amazing local artists and YoungArts staff that made this program the best experience of my life. During our first day, we participated in many fun bonding activities, watched performances and learned about members of our group and of our guest artist Kirin Kim. At the end of the day, we visited the Nimoy Theatre in downtown Los Angeles where we had the opportunity to watch performances from previoud YoungArts winners. The following day we did a TMZ tour of Los Angeles where we visited Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, the Pink Wall and much more. We also had bonding time with other groups to discuss our experiences at our designated field trips. Lastly, we visited the art amusement park Luna Luna where we appreciated lost art from the 1980’s and spent time with fellow participants. On the last day, we were given time to put a performance together within our groups that included all of the disciplines and required everyone to work together. We decided to focus on the experiences we had and our gratitude towards YoungArts.
Working with other artists in different disciplines was an amazing experience; I was given the opportunity to learn more about the process of creating different types of art while being present to materialize ideas together. Being able to jam with the jazz musicians while connecting with the dancers, laughing at funny bits from the actors, hearing non-traditional jazz instruments play with us while getting amazing photography taken from the visual artists was so magical and allowed every single one of us to create our own art together, with no restrictions or judgement.
If you are a winner that will soon attend an interdisciplinary lab, the best advice I can give you is to try your best to let go of your artistic and social fears. The people you will meet there are on the same path you are on and are curious to know more about you and your personal artistic practice. In order to create the best possible art and have fun you need to be vulnerable with others and let them in for the small amount of time you will have together.”
