YAACompany

Grades 10-12

Registration for Fall Semester now Closed.

Check back in mid-October 2026 for Winter/Spring Semester Registration.

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  • WHAT

    • Conservatory-quality, musical theatre training

    • Perform in large-scale musical theatre productions with full symphonic orchestra in major professional venues, such as our home stage at the Music Center at Strathmore

    • Be mentored by professional artists from Broadway and beyond

    • Award-winning program (Regional Emmy-Award Winning, Best of Bethesda, & Best of DC)

  • WHO

    • High School aged students in Grades 10-12 (ages 15-19)

    • Singers, Actors, Dancers based in Maryland, Virginia, & DC

  • WHEN

    • Fall/Winter Semester (September - February)

      • Thursdays from 7:00-9:30pm

      • Saturdays from 11:00am-5:00pm

    • Winter/Spring Semester (December - April)

      • Thursdays from 7:00-9:30pm

      • Saturdays from 11:00am-5:00pm

  • HOW

    • Auditions required. Details below.

Overview

PROGRAM DETAILS
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Program Details

  • Led by Producing Artistic Director, Rolando Sanz, YAACompany is a conservatory-quality musical theatre training program based in the Washington, DC area that gives high school singers, actors and dancers the rare opportunity to study, rehearse, and perform in large-scale works of music theatre in major venues with full symphonic orchestra. Auditions are required.

    YAACompany strives to strengthen students' skills in singing, acting and dancing through a fun yet rigorous rehearsal process, as they prepare for major productions of staged symphonic theatrical productions, traditionally performed in major venues around the Washington, DC area, including Strathmore, Capital One Hall, The Fillmore, The Kennedy Center, Maryland Public Television, and The Clarice. 

    Our primary focus is always on healthy, authentic, and communicative storytelling, singing, acting, and movement, working towards the goal of a professional caliber final production.

    Many of our alumni have gone on to study at prestigious universities including Carnegie Mellon, University of Michigan, Penn State, CCM (Cincinnati), NYU, Oberlin, Baldwin Wallace, Northwestern, Rice, Indiana, and UMD, and later to perform on professional stages across the country, including National Tours and Broadway. These students and their families often credit YAA for preparing them for college and their musical careers beyond.

    YAA also provides additional Classes, Workshops, and Masterclasses for students to further advance and refine their skills.

  • Young Artists of America produces three productions per season featuring YAACompany that fall into two semesters:

    • Fall/Winter Semester (September thru February)

      • includes participation in Fall and Winter Productions

    • Winter/Spring Semester (December thru April)

    Students can audition for the entire season in the fall to participate in all three productions.

    Or students can participate in just one of the two semesters. Students in each semester will participate in two productions.

    A discount is offered for those students who enroll for the full school year up front.

    Scroll to the bottom of this page to see the Rehearsal Calendar.

  • YAACompany students are permitted TWO conflicts per production.

    Conflict requests must be submitted in advance for approval by staff before they are accepted. This is to ensure the full commitment of all participants and the efficiency of the rehearsal process.

    YAA staff works with seniors to coordinate college visits and auditions in the fall and spring.

    Scroll to the bottom of this page to see the Rehearsal Calendar.

  • In 2026-2027, regular YAACompany rehearsals will take place at Loiederman MS in Silver Spring, MD. Learn more here.

    Alternate rehearsal venues include

    • Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Bethesda, MD

    • Saint Mark’s Presbyterian Church in North Bethesda, MD

    • Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, MD.

    Our performances take place at various major professional venues in the Metro DC area.

    Learn more about our rehearsal and performance venues here.

  • Visit our Current Season page for current productions.

  • All YAACompany students must audition to be accepted into the program.

    Preliminary auditions for the 2026-2027 YAACompany will be online. Video auditions will be submitted via our Acceptd platform.

    Callback and Dance auditions will then take place in-person in September for the Fall/Winter semester and in November/December for the Winter/Spring semester. Visit our Acceptd application page for more details.

    If a student is accepted and enrolls for both semesters, they need only audition once in the Fall to be a member of the ensemble, but may re-audition in November/December for solo opportunities.

    Learn more about how to audition below.

  • YAA students have the unique opportunity to work closely alongside leading professional mentors both in rehearsal and performance.

    Recent mentors have included: Alan Menken (Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid), Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin), Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked, On the Twentieth Century), Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County, Songs for a New World), Michael Feinstein (Curator of the Great American Songbook), Steven Lutvak (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Violet, Shrek the Musical), Andrew Lippa (Big Fish, The Addams Family, The Wild Party), and many more.

    Learn more about recent Mentors and upcoming opportunities to work with Guest Mentors here.

  • Each season, our students are exposed to a vast repertoire, which can include classic and contemporary musical theatre, and more.

    Recent innovative programming has included staged theatrical concerts of large-scale musical theatre, as well as unique productions that have been devised for and have received their world premiere with Young Artists of America.

    Our world premiere of Young Artists of America: The Songs of Tim Rice filmed for PBS (Maryland Public Television) was nominated for three regional EMMY® awards and won an EMMY® in 2018.

    YAACompany members are also often called upon to participate in exciting professional performances through our partnerships with various venues in the region. Recent and upcoming professional opportunities for students have included performing in:

  • FULL SEASON (September - April) - $3,495
    - Includes 3 Productions (Fall + Winter + Spring shows)

    • Fall/Winter Semester Only (September - February) - $2,595

      • Includes 2 Productions (Fall + Winter shows)

    • Winter/Spring Semester Only (December - May) - $2,595

      • Includes 2 Productions (Winter + Spring shows)

    Learn more about available Scholarships and Awards here.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Audition Requirements

  • Auditions for YAACompany are open to all singers, actors, and dancers in Grades 10-12 located in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

    Students in Grade 9 are invited to audition for the YAASenior program.

  • For Fall/Winter 2026, there are two rounds of auditions for YAACompany:

    • The FIRST ROUND of auditions will be ONLINE via VIDEO AUDITIONS submitted through our Acceptd platform.

      • Video auditions are due by Sunday, September 6, 2026.

      • Be sure to review the best practices for Video Auditions here.

    • The SECOND ROUND of auditions will take place IN-PERSON and will consist of the following:.

      • PART 1: Dance Audition (in-person) for ALL applicants on Sunday, September 13, 2026.

      • PART 2: Vocal/Monologue Audition on Thursday, September 10, 2026 OR Sunday, September 13, 2026 for anyone interested in a solo or understudy role in the production.

        • Students auditioning for only an Ensemble role do not need to sing in-person, but DO need to attend the Dance Audition.

        • You can schedule a time for your IN-PERSON singing/monologue timeslot once you complete your application and submit your Video Audition via Acceptd. Scheduling instructions will arrive in your confirmation email.

        • In-person singing/monologue audition slots will be scheduled at the time you submit your video auditions via Acceptd.

    —————————————

    For Winter/Spring 2026, there are two rounds of auditions for YAACompany:

    • The FIRST ROUND of auditions will be ONLINE via VIDEO AUDITIONS submitted through our Acceptd platform.

      • Video auditions are due by Tuesday, November 17, 2026 by 11:59pm.

      • Auditioners are invited to prepare 1-2 excerpts from our audition packet for your voice type.

        • The excerpts you choose will be presented in-person at callbacks.

      • Be sure to review the best practices for Video Auditions here.

    • The SECOND ROUND of auditions will take place IN-PERSON.

      • PART 1: MANDATORY Dance Audition (in-person) for ALL applicants on TBA.

        • All students will be required for the entire call as they will dance for both shows.

      • PART 2: Vocal/Monologue in-person audition on TBA for anyone interested in a solo or understudy role in the production.

        • Currently enrolled returning students auditioning for only an Ensemble role do not need to audition in-person, but DO need to attend the Dance Audition.

        • In-person singing/monologue audition slots will be scheduled at the time you submit your video auditions via Acceptd.


  • Online audition registration and video submission must be completed by:

    • FALL/WINTER: Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT.

    • WINTER/SPRING: Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 11:59pm


    There is a $35 application fee for all applicants. Please note that the fee is only required on your first Active application of the 2026-2027 season. Students applying for more than one program can enter the following coupon code in the payment section of the Acceptd application to waive the second application fee: 02YAA26

    Applicants can apply for a waiver to this application fee by submitting financial documentation to Acceptd. Please visit the Acceptd Support Desk for more information.

  • All students applying for YAACompany will need to participate in a VOICE as well as a DANCE audition. See below for more on each type of audition.

  • A musical theatre or jazz standard selection of your choice that best shows off your voice and personality.

    • Ballad or uptempo are fine.

    • Complete song or 32-bar cut are both acceptable.

    • It’s best to present a song that you know well and can perform from memory, not one that was just learned a few days prior.

    Be sure to review the best practices for Video Auditions here.

    • ALL students will be required to attend an IN-PERSON dance audition on:

      • FALL/WINTER:

        • Sunday, September 13, 2026 from 2:15-3:45pm

      • WINTER/SPRING:

        • TBA

    • We will learn the choreography as a group, and then break into smaller groups for the dance auditions.

    • Please wear comfortable clothing that you can move in as well as jazz shoes if you own them.

    • Students who wish to be considered for a solo or understudy in the production, will be invited to an IN-PERSON vocal callback audition on:

      • FALL/WINTER:

        • Thursday, September 10, 2026

        • Sunday, September 13, 2026

      • WINTER/SPRING: TBA

    • Students who wish to only be considered for an ensemble role in the production do not need to do a vocal callback audition. However they must attend the dance audition.

    • You can schedule a time for your IN-PERSON Vocal/Monologue timeslot once you complete your application and submit your Video Audition via Acceptd. Scheduling instructions will arrive in your confirmation email.

    • For the Vocal/Monologue audition, students are asked to prepare 1-2 of the excerpts linked below from the production. (Click below for sheet music, monologues, and audio of vocal lead tracks.)

      • FALL/WINTER: TITANIC

        • CLICK HERE to download audition materials, including sheet music, monologues, and learning tracks.

  • We have laid out best practices for a successful video audition on this page. We recommend you visit it before completing your Vocal Audition.

  • FALL/WINTER:

    You will be notified if you have been accepted into the YAACompany by e-mail by Monday, September 14, 2026 by 3:00pm.

    Those who are accepted into the YAACompany will have to accept their position by paying their tuition via Active no later than Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 11:59pm.

    There will be a MANDATORY Virtual Family Orientation via Zoom on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 from 7:00-8:00pm. Students AND parents from ALL families (new and returning) are required to attend. 

    The first rehearsal will take place in-person on Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 7:00-9:30pm.

    ——————————————————

    WINTER/SPRING:

    You will be notified if you have been accepted into the YAACompany by e-mail by Sunday, November 2, 2026 at 10:00pm.

    Those who are accepted into the YAACompany will have to accept their position by paying their tuition no later than THANKSGIVING DAY, Thursday, November 26, 2026 at 11:59pm.

    There will be a Mandatory Zoom Family Orientation for new students on a TBA date.

    The first rehearsal will take place on Thursday, December 3, 2026 from 7:00-9:30pm.

REGISTER FOR AN AUDITION NOW!
AUDITION TIPS

What Our Students & Families Say

  • "YAA is the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of. Nothing has ever made me feel so at home then YAA does. Everyone here is my family."

    - YAA Student

  • “YAA has helped my shy child break out of her shell, find her people, and her voice. Thank you.”

    - YAA Parent

  • “YAA is an amazing community with an extremely high caliber of performances that you can’t find anywhere else.”

    - YAA Student

  • “I was very impressed with the quality of instruction. The focus was on learning and growing, as opposed to just ‘putting on a show.”

    - YAA Parent

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