BUILDING DREAMS
A Home for Young Artists to Thrive
As Young Artists of America continues to grow, so does the urgency for a permanent home to meet the needs of our students and programs.
To bring this vision to life, we are launching the Building Dreams Campaign — an $8 million fundraising initiative to establish a state-of-art rehearsal facility on Rockville Pike and to ensure YAA remains accessible to students from all backgrounds.
This space will become Montgomery County’s first Collaborative Performing Arts Hub, serving both YAA students as well as the broader local arts community.
The Challenge
For nearly 15 years, YAA has fostered a nurturing and inclusive space for young artists to experiment, take risks, and imagine the world through their own unique artistry—all while delivering exceptional training and performances to the community.
Despite not having a dedicated rehearsal space of our own, YAA has become the home for collaborative young artists across the DC metro area. However, we face significant limitations that hinder our growth and impact.
Without a permanent rehearsal space, we rely on a patchwork of short-term, borrowed locations. We also lack a space large enough to accommodate full mainstage rehearsals—which compromises our efficiency, cohesion, and the collaborative experience that is central to our mission.
Our Corner of the Sky
We have identified 1626 East Jefferson Street in Rockville, Maryland as the future home for YAA.
Located in The Offices at Congressional Plaza, this prime space sits in the heart of Rockville Pike—a thriving hub of dining, retail, and entertainment.
Within 25 minutes from downtown Washington DC and adjacent to the new Twinbrook Quarter, it is easily accessible by Metro and offers ample free on-site parking, making it both convenient and centrally located minutes from our home stage at Strathmore.
The Room Where it Happens
Test fit (2024)
10,604 total sq ft
8,000 sq ft rehearsal space
9 large, medium, and small rehearsal studios
Student lounge and community space
120+ free on-site parking spaces
Short walk from Twinbrook Metro
Montgomery County’s first collaborative performing arts hub
Take a Virtual Tour
Renowned architecture firm, Grimm + Parker has been hired to design an elevated space with specialty flooring and acoustic treatments that will enhance the quality of the student experience.
Here, we’ll be able to bring our entire artist community together under one roof for rehearsals for the first time in YAA’s history.
This dedicated space will also create new opportunities to grow our revenue by offering additional classes, hosting special events, and making the space available for rentals to the broader arts community.
The Design
The Design (2026)
-
![]()
-
![]()
Sue Hains, AIA
Principal-in-Charge/Project Manager
-
![]()
Antonio Rebelo, AIA
Principal/Design Director
-
![]()
Blanca Flores
Architectural Designer
Bring Us Home
The Building Dreams Campaign will transform this blank canvas into a dynamic home we can truly call our own.
We’re thrilled to share that we are over halfway to our goal!
To date, $2.6 million has been secured, including $1.6 million in generous contributions from private donors plus a $1 million commitment from our landlord for the buildout. This investment demonstrates a strong belief in YAA’s mission and the long-term value of our new home. We also anticipate an additional $1.5 million from the State of Maryland in 2026.
To reach our goal, we need to raise an additional $3.9 million to complete renovations and invest in the infrastructure to sustain YAA into the future.
Join Us
Join this once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future of Young Artists of America and the local arts community. By coming together to support the Building Dreams Campaign, you will help secure YAA’s future and amplify its impact for generations to come.
The heart of our work is the belief that excellence in artistry is attainable through collaboration and disciplined hard work. The lessons students learn here—about dedication, community, joy in music and stagecraft, and the power of a strong work ethic—stay with them for life. We invite you to be a part of this transformative journey!
Together, we can provide a home for young artists to thrive.
Ways to Give
Make a one-time gift online or by check
Make a multi-year pledge (up to 3 years)
Donate appreciated stock
Engage your company in a corporate sponsorship or matching gift
Give through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an IRA (for individuals 70½+)
Name a space in honor of a student, family member, business or loved one
Gifts of $10,000 and above will be recognized on a special donor wall in the lobby of our new facility. Select Naming Opportunities are available for contributions of $50,000 and above. All gifts and pledges are payable through 2027.
Being a part of YAA has truly changed my life and the training I’ve received has been transformative. I’ve been extremely fortunate to receive a scholarship each year. As I head to Emerson College in Boston to pursue Musical Theatre, I see YAA as a place I can always come home to.
— LUKA VAN HERKSEN, Class of ‘25
Campaign Leadership
Young Artists of America is grateful for the generosity and enthusiasm of our Building Dreams Campaign leadership. Their commitment is not only an investment in our organization, but in the young instrumentalists, singers, actors, and dancers we are privileged to serve. Thanks to their visionary support, we are able to secure YAA’s future and amplify our impact for generations to come.
Honorary Co-Chairs
-
![]()
Stephen Schwartz
Broadway Composer/Lyricist
(Wicked, Pippin, Godspell) -
![]()
Constance A. Morella
Retired U.S. Representative from Maryland
-
![Catherine & Ike Leggett]()
Catherine & Ike Leggett
Former County Executive & First Lady of Montgomery County, MD
-
![]()
Carol Trawick
Arts Philanthropist, Former Chair of Maryland State Arts Council
-
![]()
Jason Robert Brown
Broadway Composer/Lyricist
(Parade, 13, The Last Five Years) -
![]()
Andrew Lippa
Broadway Composer/Lyricist
(The Addams Family, Big Fish)
Campaign Committee
-
![]()
Ollen Douglass
CO-CHAIR
Managing Partner, Lightship Anchor Fund; YAA Board Chair Emeritus & Alumni Parent -
![]()
Julia Douglass
CO-CHAIR
Senior Fellow, Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement & Alumni Parent -
![]()
Jordan Bookey
Co-Founder, Zoobean
-
![]()
Peter D. Cook
Design Principal, HGA Architects & Engineers
-
![]()
Erkan Erdem
Economist, KPMG LLP
-
![]()
Patrick Fahey
Executive (Ret.), Costco Wholesale
-
![]()
Richard Gervase
YAA Board President, Non-Profit Consultant
-
![]()
Ashley Kilpatrick
Founder & Principal, Cake Byte
-
![]()
Robert F. Levey
Journalist and Consultant
-
![]()
Amy Padre
Fundraising Consultant
-
![]()
Erin Pelton
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Foretell
-
![]()
Wendy Susswein
Community Engagement Strategist, Chair of YAA Development Committee
-
![]()
Maya Weil
Fundraising & Planned Giving Consultant
Campaign Donors
With profound gratitude, we recognize the donors whose generosity is making this campaign possible.
-
$500,000-$999,999
Anonymous
-
$250,000-$499,999
Anonymous
-
$100,000-$249,999
Ollen & Julia Douglass
Richard Gervase & Stuart Delery
Ed, Shelley, and David Grossman and the Bill Grossman Fund of the Grossman Family Charitable Funds
Carol Trawick
-
$50,000-$99,999
Anonymous (2)
Jared & Alanna Kotler
-
$25,000-$49,999
The Susswein Family
Maya Weil
-
$10,000-$24,999
Anonymous (2)
Jamie Joeyen-Waldorf & Family
Susan & Arnie Lutzker
Sonya Sbar & Alec Rogers
Jacquie & Rolando Sanz
-
$5,000-$9,999
Tom DiGiovanni & Patrick O’Donnell
Lisa Larragoite & Tom Kohn
Elvi Moore
Stefanie Morgan-Davis & Nikel Davis
-
$2,500-$4,999
The Davies Foundation
-
$1,000-$2,499
Erkan Erdem
Pat & Patsy Fahey
Kent Killelea
Eve A. Lilley
Kathy McGuire (in honor of Elvi Moore)
-
$250 to $999
Anonymous
Peter D. Cook
Bob Levey
Reginald Stanley
Timeline
Building Dreams FAQs
-
-
Our new home is centrally located on Rockville Pike, just minutes from our performance home at Strathmore. It's easily accessible by Metro (Twinbrook) and public transportation, offers free on-site parking, and sits adjacent to Congressional Plaza in a thriving hub of dining, retail, and entertainment—making it convenient for families across the DC metro area.
-
We’re planning for an opening in late 2026.
-
Our performances will continue to take place at Strathmore and other major area performance venues as scheduled. This facility is dedicated to rehearsals, classes, and community programming, enhancing—not interrupting—what we do.
-
Yes! We will be setting up site visits in the coming weeks that you can sign up for. Stay tuned!
-
Yes! Young Artists of America is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN: 45-0643746). Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
-
Yes! All gifts and pledges are payable through 2027.
-
Gifts of $10,000 and above will be recognized on a special donor wall in the lobby of our new facility. Select Naming Opportunities are available for contributions of $50,000 and above.
-
Yes! We welcome corporate gifts or sponsorships. Please contact us to discuss opportunities.
-
We'd love to speak with you! Please contact:
Rolando Sanz (Producing Artistic Director) at rolando@yaa.org
Lisa Larragoite (Executive Director) at lisa@yaa.org.
For more information about YAA and the Building Dreams Campaign:
Rolando Sanz, Producing Artistic Director & Co-Founder
rolando@yaa.org
Lisa Larragoite, Executive Director
lisa@yaa.org
Connect
Young Artists of America is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 45-0643746. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.