Each month, the YoungArts Community Spotlight highlights upcoming events, projects and press from YoungArts past winners, guest artists and panelists.
In the News
- Desmond Diehl (2024, 2025 Jazz) featured in TAPinto Basking Ridge
- Jennifer Kim (2025 Design) named 2025 Orange County Artist of the Year in Media Arts
- Anton Kot (2019, 2020, 2021 Jazz) receives BMI Future Jazz Masters Award
- Jaiden Geolingo (2025 Writing) named Finalist for Georgia Poet Laureate’s Prize 2025
- Katerina McCrimmon (2016 Theater & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) to star in EVITA at The Muny Theater in St. Louis, MO
- Nia Akilah Robinson’s (2014 Theater) new play “↓ D←R←O←W←N←E←R [Renword]” to premiere at Nextstop Theatre in Virginia in 2026
Kudos
- Corinne May Botz (1995 Photography & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Photography National Selection Panelist) developing her new photo book, Milk Factory
- Jolie Demesmin (2025 Voice) participating in Betty Carter Jazz Ahead workshop
- Mario Layne Fabrizio’s (2014, 2015 Jazz) band, THE STAR GONDOLA, released their debut track and music video, ANTHEM
- Wendell Pierce (1981 Theater & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) starring in Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, in theaters now
- Alexcia Shannon (2025 Dance) to participate in the Jacob’s Pillow 2025 Tap Dance Performance Ensemble
- Asia Stewart (2014 Theater) selected as a 2025-2026 Silver Art Projects Artist in Residence
- Elaina Stuppler (2024 Classical Music, 2024, 2025 Voice) received DownBeat Magazine’s Original Composition – Large Ensemble, High School Division, Outstanding Composition Award
- Anjali Talluru (2021 Dance) won first place in the Advanced Level Performance Category and named Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai Award Winner at Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana
Shoutout to all the Tony Award Nominees 🎭 We’re rooting for you!
- Michael Arden (2001 Theater, Voice, Writing & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) nominated for a Tony Award (Best Direction of a Musical) for Maybe Happy Ending
- Camille A. Brown (1997 Dance & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) nominated for a Tony Award (Best Choreography) for Gypsy
- Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (2003 Writing) nominated for a Tony Award (Best Play) for Purpose
- Marco Ramirez (2001 Writing & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) nominated for a Tony Award (Best Book of a Musical) for Buena Vista Social Club
- Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber (2006 Classical Music) nominated for a Tony Award (Best Orchestrations) for Just in Time
On the Calendar
- Michele Selene Ang (2012 Theater & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) to star in the world premiere of WHAT YOU ARE TO ME, for National Queer Theater at HERE Arts in New York, NY, June 13, 18, 20-22
- Emily Drennan (1998 Voice & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) joining the Vancouver Symphony as a soloist at The Orpheum in Vancouver, CAN on June 13-14
- Tyné Angela Freeman (2012, 2013 Voice) presenting Sustainable Symphony short film as part of her YoungArts Fellowship at the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, South Carolina on June 21
- Thurmon Green (2008 Film) performing at Kiso in Los Angeles, CA on May 29
- Justice Smith (2013 Theater) in Creditors at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York, NY through June 18
- Asia Stewart (2014 Theater) performing in original work, any experience with men and alcohol, at JACK in Brooklyn, NY, May 29-31
- Dominique Thorne (2015 Theater & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) starring in Marvel’s Ironheart, coming to Disney+ on June 24
- Goddess comes to The Public for its New York premiere, featuring music and lyrics by Michael Thurber (2006 Classical Music) and choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie (1995 Dance). Also featuring Alphonso Horne (2005 Classical Music) on the trumpet and Zachary Downer (2015 Dance) in the cast, showing through June 8
- Jan Vargas Nedvetsky (2024 Classical Music) received first place in the 2025 West Suburban Symphony Concerto Competition and will be performing as a soloist with the West Suburban Symphony at Wentz Hall in Naperville, IL on June 22
- Nightlarking curated by Cynthia Zhou (2018 Visual Arts & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) featuring works by Julia Gould (2018 Visual Arts) on view at Vox Populi Gallery in Philadelphia, PA through June 15. This exhibiton was supported by a YoungArts Microgrant.
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