Children on stage in a row striking a very dramatic pose

Arts & Learning Days: A Taste of Summer in the School Year

A whole-child approach to learning puts significant focus on the social and emotional needs of students. And as we’ve seen in our Summer Arts & Learning Academy (SALA), the arts and arts integration pair naturally with social and emotional learning (SEL).…

Passion Is Contagious

Written by Barbara Krebs, Young Audiences volunteer and Sunburst Society member Recently I toured Ireland, circumnavigating this gorgeous island from the Republic of Ireland, to Northern Ireland before returning to Dublin. If you have half a day, I’ll be happy…

Kindergarten students use crayon to draw stalk of broccoli from real life.

Sowing a Big Idea: Growing Up Green

Some big ideas are meant to be shared. It is through partnership and collaboration that the big ideas grow roots and become an integral part of something even bigger. In 2015, Pat Cruz, YA’s then-chief innovation officer, and educator Mary…

Portrait of Cecil Elementary Principal Aleesha Manning

Meet the Principal: Aleesha Manning

Mrs. Aleesha Manning, Principal of Cecil Elementary, began her teaching career in Baltimore City in 2003 as a Kindergarten teacher at Lakewood Elementary. The following year, she joined the Cecil family/community and served as a teacher and assistant principal. She…

Portrait ofCross Country Elementary/Middle School Principal LaShella Stanfield

Meet the Principal: LaShella Stanfield

The arts in LaShella Stanfield’s school have proven to be a catalyst for students’ academic success. That’s one reason Mrs. Stanfield, Principal of Cross Country Elementary/Middle School, is participating in Young Audiences’ inaugural Principal Fellowship Program. Through the program, she…

Arundel Principal Rochelle Machado sits at a table to write down what she hopes to gain from the Principal Fellowship on a Dream Banner

Meet the Principal: Rochelle Machado

Mrs. Rochelle Machado believes every scholar has the potential to be great. The principal of Arundel Elementary Middle School and winner of the 2016 Heart of the School Award wants to make a difference in the Cherry Hill school community…

Principal Reese uses watercolor to create her wish banner at the Principal's Fellowship dinner

Meet the Principal: Monique Reese

In January 2020, Bay Brook Elementary Middle School will move into a 21st Century school building! Monique B. Reese, Principal of Bay Brook told us that along with the move, her school is adopting an arts integration model. During her first three…

SummerREADS: An Internship Like No Other

Written by Soni Kunwar, 2019 SummerREADS Intern When I was looking for a summer internship during my spring semester at college, I came across an internship for the SummerREADS program at Young Audiences of Maryland. What caught my eye about…

Voices for a Relevant Future: 2019 Bloomberg Arts Internship

This week, 35 Bloomberg Arts Interns—all rising seniors in Baltimore high schools—will be winding down their travels in and out and through our city’s marvelous historic and contemporary art-filled spaces. We are lucky, here in Baltimore, to have such esteemed…

The Tangible Intangible: A Witness to the Power of the Arts

Written by Alan Hoff, Young Audiences Board of Directors, Vice Chairman The arts are not just nice, they’re critical to the development and well-being of our communities. I am both excited and proud that Baltimore County has continued to recognize…

Imagine the Connections…

Written by Barbara Krebs, Young Audiences volunteer and Sunburst Society member “What does the artist do? He draws connections. He ties the invisible threads between things.” —Anselm Kiefer, German painter and sculptor A few weeks ago, Young Audiences hosted an…

Belonging

Written by Stacie Sanders Evans, President and CEO of Young Audiences/Arts for Learning Belonging. That’s the word that has been on my mind. Our founder, Nina Collier, understood belonging. She felt music belonged in schools, that artists belonged in a…