Open to select musicians from the YOLA National Festival, the YOLA National Institute (YNI) is an in-depth training program for young musicians interested in pursuing artistic development and ventures throughout their careers.

Students from the YOLA National Festival who are Sophomores and Juniors will be invited to apply. Applications are by invitation only.

Purpose:

YOLA National Institute (YNI) facilitates opportunities for young artists from (historically) marginalized communities, particularly communities of color, to actively participate in project-based learning, holistic practices, and personal explorations through music. YNI builds a year-round collaborative community of young people and adult allies to think critically about the arts, to question the role of music in their lives, and to develop a better understanding of themselves and their creative futures.

Mission Statement:

YNI is a youth-centered program built around practices of care and inquiry, that supports young people in their personal and artistic development and encourages new learning and equitable opportunities within the field of classical music.

Program Overview:

• The Institute aims to supplement students’ musical experience at home and at the YOLA National Festival. All program elements are provided for free to participating students, including travel, room, and board.

• Musicians are introduced to a wide variety of artists over the course of the year, engage in their own creative projects, and work to better understand themselves, their vision, and their creative futures.

• YNI Fellows work together as a cohort over the course of the academic year, creating personal artist statements, exploring various career pathways, and supporting each other as they navigate the college application process, or their first year of college.

• The program offers mentorship, travel opportunities, and support for college applications.

• YNI Fellows are leaders who think critically about the arts, and actively seek opportunities to question the role of music in society, and in their lives.

More information about YOLA National Institute coming soon.