2026 WELCOME LETTER
We look forward to meeting you Wednesday, August 12th!
“YoungArts at Oberlin” is a free, one-day summer intensive taking place at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Sessions will be led by accomplished YoungArts and Oberlin-affiliated artists including Amanda Krische, Jennifer Koh, LaTanya Hall and Victoria Bussert, offering students the chance to spend the day engaging in a focused artistic experience within a vibrant conservatory environment.
Participants will take part in interactive sessions focused on portfolio and audition development for specialized arts schools and the YoungArts National Arts Competition, while connecting with other young artists from across the region.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Location:
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
77 West College Street
Oberlin, Ohio 44074
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to high school students (grades 9–12) interested in Dance, Classical Music, Jazz, Music Theater, Voice
2026 FAQs
About the Program
What is YoungArts at Oberlin?
YoungArts at Oberlin is a free, one-day summer intensive for high school artists taking place at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. The program brings students together for a day of artistic exploration, collaboration, and guidance on developing strong auditions for specialized arts schools and opportunities such as the YoungArts National Arts Competition.
Who is this program for?
This program is open to high school students (grades 9–12) interested in Dance, Classical Music, Jazz, Music Theater, or Voice. No audition submission is required to attend. Students of all backgrounds are invited to participate.
Is there a cost to attend?
No. YoungArts at Oberlin is free to attend.
How do I register?
Students can register for the program HERE.
Registration is first come first served, and space is limited.
What will students do during the program?
Participants will take part in interactive sessions led by artists affiliated with YoungArts and Oberlin. Sessions will focus on audition development while also providing space for creative exchange and connection with other young artists.
What is the schedule for the day?
The program will take place on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 and will run from approximately 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM.
Schedule is as follows:
9:00 AM – Check-in and welcome in the Conservatory Lounge located in the middle of the Conservatory building complex, 77 West College Street, Oberlin OH 44074
10:00 AM – Program begins
11:00 AM _ 12:30 PM – Interactive, collaborative art-making session (breakout groups)
Lunch Break – Informal networking with peers, faculty, and artists
2:00 pm – 3:30 PM – Audition development session, alumni panel, Q&A, and YoungArts info session
3:30 PM – Program concludes
A detailed schedule, including session locations is listed below.
Who are the guest artists?
Sessions will be led by accomplished guest artists connected to YoungArts like Amanda Krische (2012, Dance) and Jennifer Koh (1994, Classical Music), and Oberlin faculty La Tanya Hall (Associate Professor of Voice) and Victoria Bussert (Professor of Music Theater).
Do students need to prepare anything in advance?
No formal preparation is required.
Students are encouraged to come ready to participate, engage, and collaborate.
What should I bring?
Students should come prepared to participate fully in the day’s activities.
Recommended items include:
Comfortable clothing and shoes appropriate for your discipline
A water bottle
A notebook or device for taking notes
Logistics and Campus Information
Where is the program located?
YoungArts at Oberlin will take place at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music on the Oberlin College campus in Oberlin, Ohio. The address of the Conservatory is: 77 West College Street, Oberlin, OH 44074. Please see the schedule detail below.
How do I get to campus?
Please see travel detail below.
Where should I go when I arrive?
Please go into the central part of the Conservatory to the student lounge
What time should I arrive?
Participants should plan to arrive between 9:00 AM and 9:30 AM to allow time for check-in before the program begins. The program will begin promptly at 10:00 AM and conclude at approximately 3:30 PM.
Will food be provided?
Lunch will be provided for participants during the program day. Participants will have time to eat and connect with peers, faculty, and artists during the scheduled lunch break.
Are parents or guests allowed to attend?
Workshop sessions and lunch are reserved for registered student participants only. Parents/guardians or guests are welcome to join the later portion of the program, including the application preparedness session and YoungArts informational presentation and Q&A. Additional details will be shared with registered participants in advance of the event.
What if I need to cancel my registration?
If you are no longer able to attend, please notify us as soon as possible so that your spot may be offered to another student. Please contact:
Manuel Blasco
Manager, Outreach & Community Development
YoungArts
mblasco@youngarts.org
Who should I contact with questions about event logistics?
For questions related to campus logistics, directions, or day-of details, please contact:
Anna Hoffmann, Manager
Oberlin Conservatory of Music Summer Programs
ahoffman@oberlin.edu
About YoungArts
What is YoungArts?
YoungArts is a national nonprofit organization that identifies and supports the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts. Through its annual competition and year-round programs for award winners, YoungArts provides mentorship, financial awards, and creative and professional development opportunities to artists at critical moments in their careers.
What is the YoungArts National Arts Competition?
The YoungArts National Arts Competition is an annual application-based program for high school artists ages 15-18, or in grades 10-12, across the United States.
Winners receive financial awards, mentorship, and opportunities for creative and professional development, including participation in programs such as YoungArts Week.
How do I apply to YoungArts?
The YoungArts application typically opens in July and closes in October.
Students can learn more and apply at youngarts.org/apply
How can I learn more about YoungArts opportunities?
Visit youngarts.org/programs to learn about YoungArts programming for eligible artists.
You can also sign up to receive announcements, updates, tips and reminders about the 2027 national arts competition HERE.
The 2027 YoungArts application opens Summer 2026.
Who should I contact with questions about YoungArts?
For questions about YoungArts, the competition application, or artistic disciplines, please contact:
Manuel Blasco
Manager, Outreach and Community Development
mblasco@youngarts.org
2026 GUEST ARTIST BIOS
Victoria Bussert has directed more than 500 shows on prominent stages across four continents, including 39 seasons at Cleveland’s Great Lakes Theater and 18 at Idaho Shakespeare Festival, acting as resident director for the sister companies. Her national work includes productions at the Manhattan Theatre Club, York Theatre, Goodspeed Opera, Playhouse Square, Portland Stage, Dallas Theater Center, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and Anchorage Opera.
LaTanya Hall has collaborated with a long list of celebrated performers across a variety of genres, including Harry Belafonte, Diana Ross, Bobby McFerrin, Burt Bacharach, Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, and Rob Thomas. She has appeared as a soloist with the American Composer’s Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony, and the St. Louis Symphony, among other ensembles. Hall counts her years devoted to teaching among the most rewarding experiences of her career. “I respect the process and consider it a gift to be able to teach this next generation the fundamentals of the jazz vocal legacy,” she says. “This music is steeped in tradition, and I continue to be touched and amazed at the dedication of the younger generations to keep it alive.”
Amanda Krische is a YoungArts 2012 Winner in Dance and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts. She is an interdisciplinary choreographer and performer whose work explores the intersection of movement with fields like science, ecology, and culture. Her performances have been presented nationally and internationally, and she is known for creating immersive, thought-provoking experiences. In addition to her creative practice, she is an experienced educator who works with artists across levels.
Jennifer Koh, a YoungArts 1994 Winner in Classical Music and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, is recognized for intense, commanding performances, delivered with dazzling virtuosity and technical assurance, Grammy Award-winning violinist Jennifer Koh is a forward-thinking artist dedicated to exploring a broad and eclectic repertoire. She has expanded the contemporary violin repertoire through a wide range of commissioning projects and has premiered more than 100 works written especially for her. Her quest for the new and unusual, sense of endless curiosity, and ability to lead and inspire a host of multidisciplinary collaborators, truly set her apart.
2026 SCHEDULE - Session title and location
9:00-10:00am Registration
Conservatory Lounge
10:00-11:00am Program Begins
Kulas Recital Hall
11am-12:30pm Breakout Session 1
Interactive, collaborative art making
Dance: Amanda Krische
Stull Hall
Classical Music: Jennifer Koh
Kulas Recital Hall
Voice: LaTanya Hall
Clonick Hall
Music Theater: Victoria Bussert
Con East Studios
12:30-2pm Lunch at Stevenson Dining Hall
2:00-3:30pm Breakout Session 2
Audition Development, Alumni Panel, Q&A, and YoungArts Info Session
Kulas Recital Hall
3:30pm - Program concludes
DRIVING TO OBERLIN/PARKING ON CAMPUS - MAPS, AREA ACCOMMODATIONS
CAMPUS MAP //CONSERVATORY MAP // OBERLIN CITY MAP
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO OBERLIN
Visiting Oberlin - accommodations, restaurants, transportation
PLEASE NOTE: the summer airport shuttles (above) are the only group shuttles available during the summer.
The Conservatory of Music sits on the corner of West College Street and Professor Street. Although the main entrance of the Conservatory is on West College Street, registration for the summer programs is in the student lounge in the middle of the building complex, on the South Professor Street side of the building. Entrance doors are unlocked on the east side of Bibbins Hall, and on the west side of the complex on Professor Street by the Conservatory Pond.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO OBERLIN
Visiting Oberlin - accommodations, restaurants, transportation
PLEASE NOTE: the summer airport shuttles (above) are the only group shuttles available during the summer.
The Conservatory of Music sits on the corner of West College Street and Professor Street. Although the main entrance of the Conservatory is on West College Street, registration for the summer programs is in the student lounge in the middle of the building complex, on the South Professor Street side of the building. Entrance doors are unlocked on the east side of Bibbins Hall, and on the west side of the complex on Professor Street by the Conservatory Pond.
PARKING ON CAMPUS
Parking on campus is free. We recommend parking in the Conservatory Professor Street parking lot.
Parking on campus is free. We recommend parking in the Conservatory Professor Street parking lot.
PUBLIC PARKING
The Oberlin Business District is intended for patrons of downtown businesses. The city enforces a two-hour parking limit. Residential street parking is limited to 48 hours.
The Oberlin Business District is intended for patrons of downtown businesses. The city enforces a two-hour parking limit. Residential street parking is limited to 48 hours.
2026 CONTACT INFORMATION
Anna Hoffmann, Oberlin Summer Programs Manager
ahoffman@oberlin.edu
cell phone/text
440-935-3559
Conservatory Main Office
440-775-8200 (8:30am-4:30pm)
Campus Safety
440-775-8444
Campus Emergency
440-775-8911