Young Musicians Compete and Collaborate in a Remarkable Program
The Yamaha Young Performing Artists Program recognizes rising stars and helps them develop and grow as musicians and people through performance opportunities, workshops and a vast community.
It is almost impossible to describe the feeling of watching the Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) walk on stage to the thunderous applause of thousands of music students and teachers cheering them on to a performance of a lifetime.
I have a vivid memory of watching a young Patrick Bartley rehearse — he won the YYPA award for jazz saxophone a few years ago. His playing and sound were big, developed and deeply soulful. This was clearly a talented young man getting ready to jump into the world of music. He was a masterful musician with a humble soul, searching for guidance on how to navigate his journey. I see Patrick in social media posts or popping up performing with stars worldwide from time to time, and I take quiet pride in knowing that the YYPA Program may have played a small part in helping him design a career on his own terms. It’s great watching him unfold as a beautiful musician and man!
The YYPA experience is one of a kind and has the potential to move a young musician to the next level of professionalism, while connecting that musician to fellow future stars and top industry professionals.
What is YYPA?
The Yamaha Young Performing Artists Program recognizes remarkable young musicians studying music in the United States. The Competition phase is just the beginning of a unique and life-changing experience for those welcomed as Winners each year. Winners of this music celebration and competition are invited to attend an all-expenses-paid weekend at the Bands of America Summer Camp, presented by Yamaha, and receive a collaborative, once-in-a-lifetime performance opportunity, national press coverage as well as a recording and photos of the live performance. They also get to participate in workshops, given by seasoned music industry professionals and performers, designed to launch a professional music career. The fun and connection don’t stop there, though.
What YYPA REALLY Is
The YYPA Program has been positioned as a “competition” for many years. And while the competition does help us select our classes of Winners, YYPA is more of a fellowship — a bonding, inspirational and uplifting experience, which has lifelong impact on the future of rising stars. The workshops are small, intimate and offer real-life advice on topics such as dealing with self-doubt and mental health, managers/agents, personal mission and goals, collaboration skills and best business practices. There is also a strong focus on preparing audition materials, developing a press kit and refining interviewing skills. This YYPA fellowship is uniquely beneficial because it offers young musicians long-lasting skills and connections that are so much more relevant than a check and a photo op. The winners are responsible to form the program through collaboration and professional responsibilities and communication with each other.
The pinnacle of the Celebration Weekend is the annual Yamaha Young Performing Artists Concert — where the winners envision and deliver a world-class musical experience together. It is challenging and rewarding beyond words!
Why teachers should care
If you’re an educator, and you have a special student who has promise, dedication and remarkable musical skills, this program might be a great opportunity to build on the great foundation you have laid. Your encouragement and refinement of them as musicians should be recognized and rewarded, and applying for the YYPA Program may be an amazing next step for your student. Encourage them to apply on time, write a strong letter of recommendation and help them put together a great application package. Applicants do not need to play Yamaha instruments to apply or win.
If you know an eligible, outstanding young musician, talk to them about applying to the YYPA Program. Even the act of putting together a solid application package is an incredible educational experience that builds skills!
If you’re a student between the ages of 18 and 22 studying in the United States and looking to take your journey to the next level, apply! Nicole Liu, the 2025 YYPA Piano Winner, said that YYPA was an unforgettable experience, and that “it wasn’t just about performing but about finding inspiration, community and the purpose to keep growing as an artist.”
Apply for the YYPA Program Now!
Why I love YYPA
Working with the Winners is life-giving, but what is even more fulfilling is the quiet peace I feel when I receive a handwritten note from a Winner thanking us for helping them along their life’s path or seeing posts on social media from past Winners accomplishing great things. A source of great joy is seeing them perform in concerts with other musicians who they met through YYPA!
I started working full time at Yamaha in 1997, and YYPA was one of the first projects I oversaw. My first experience seeing the transformation of these bright, young, promising musicians from great players into confident, prepared and experienced rising stars lit a fire in me that still burns hot.
Top photo: YYPA’s 2023 winners, Jory Lane and Subin Cho, play an electrifying duo with collaborative pianist Casey Dierlam Tse.
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