The School
Located in the educational complex adjacent to the University of Louisville, the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) is one of only two schools in Kentucky to provide high school students with majors in the performing arts. Founded in 1978, YPAS has received local, state, national and international recognition in the arts. In addition, the Youth Performing Arts School has served as a model for similar schools throughout the nation. As a part of the Jefferson County Public School District, no tuition is required. Transportation is provided; however, students must audition to attend.
Curriculum
YPAS students have the opportunity to major in Vocal Music, Instrumental Music (which includes Band, Orchestra, and Piano), Dance, Theatre, and Design and Production (Technical Theatre). At the end of their sophomore year, students can elect to minor in Musical Theatre in addition to pursuing their current major. Highly specialized and intense training in each performing arts major prepares students for rigorous college, university, or conservatory programs that are focused on the arts. Each year, YPAS hosts 65 to 100 college, university, or conservatory representatives, who audition YPAS seniors for placement in postsecondary performing arts programs. This day, called Career Day, offers our students the opportunity to talk with many colleges, universities, and conservatory representatives in order to apply to and audition for their programs and to receive special scholarships. The YPAS co-curricular performance program provides a comprehensive classroom learning experience coupled with hands-on performance opportunities. All students are provided the opportunity to participate in after-school performances and touring companies that perform throughout the region and travel internationally. In addition to special projects, guest artist classes, touring ensembles, and performance workshops, approximately 23 productions are showcased each season in the Main Stage and Experimental Theaters.
To complement their arts education, students take academic classes at duPont Manual High School, a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence with a national academic rating of 122 in the Redbook top U.S. high schools ranking. YPAS and Manual are on an eight-block schedule that runs over two days. Blocks one through four meet the first day, a Red Day, and blocks five through eight meet the second day, a White Day. Each class block is 90 minutes, allowing for multiple instructional styles and methods. The eight-block schedule also allows for academic flexibility and the opportunity for students to enhance their arts education beyond their major
The Facility
At the heart of YPAS (both literally and figuratively) is an 886-seat, formal proscenium-style theatre acoustically designed for the young artist. The theater contains state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, a hydraulic orchestra pit, a mahogany band/orchestra shell, and a 25-line counterweight system. The YPAS Main Stage Theater facilities are on par with most contemporary professional theaters.
In addition, the YPAS scene shop, costume shop, and production facilities favorably compare with those of many universities and professional theaters. The rehearsal and classroom spaces are excellent.
The YPAS facility includes a suite of acoustically treated music rooms with a suite of practice studios; four acting labs that provide spacious rehearsal and workshop rooms; five dance studios, including a room that is specifically designed for tap dancing; a computer lab for playwriting and directing classes; a fine-arts-dedicated library; and the Robert W. West Experimental Theater, which seats 100 to 150 patrons during our main production season.View Floor Plans.
The Faculty
The YPAS faculty is a carefully selected team of professional artist/teachers who bring elements from the genres of professional entertainment and educational philosophy into the YPAS curriculum. Faculty members devote long after-school hours to the production process and, thereby, provide additional production training for YPAS students. The YPAS faculty stays abreast of current trends and performance techniques by continuing to work professionally and by bringing guest artists to supplement the YPAS curriculum.
The Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) offers a special program for high school students with interests and talents in dance, drama, vocal/instrumental music, design and production (technical theatre), and musical theatre.
YPAS students are well prepared for further education and career goals through highly intense, specialized production and performing arts classes.
Colleges and Scholarships
For the past 30 years, YPAS graduates have earned millions of dollars in scholarships and grants. Past years’ graduating classes have earned an average of more than $2.5 million in renewable scholarships a year. Talent, potential, and training in the arts enable YPAS students to compete nationally for scholarship money, awards, and grants offered by the top performing arts colleges. Schedules are customized to students’ individual needs and abilities to prepare them for the rigor and curricula of the finest colleges and conservatories, regardless of students’ chosen field(s) of study
College/Career Fair
One of the focal points of the scholarship process is our annual College/Career Fair, usually held in late October or early November. Admissions officers and departmental representatives from 60 to 100 colleges from across the country come to YPAS to audition seniors for placement and scholarships. The continuing goal of YPAS is to place graduating seniors in the next training level.
Tutoring Programs
To ensure YPAS students’ academic and artistic success, study options are available through an academic assistance program. Some options include:
• Peer tutoring—National Honor Society students who excel in a subject schedule time before and after school to meet with students and assist them academically.
• Teachers of academic classes at Manual schedule regular after-school time to work with their own students.
• Extended School Services (ESS)—Students who need academic assistance work with teachers according to the teachers’ area of certification.
Through the commitment and dedication of the YPAS faculty and the Academic Assistance Program, students will be academically and artistically successful.
Course Recovery Programs
Occasionally, we have times in our lives when there is a personal or family crisis—whether it is a serious illness, a divorce, or the loss of someone close to us. When these times occur in our lives, we may not perform up to our normal capability. When students find themselves unsuccessful in a class that is a graduation requirement, they may recover that course in a variety of ways:
• Summer School—JCPS offers required courses for graduation at selected sites over two sessions during the summer months.
• Independent Study—Students complete coursework on their own time.
• JCPS eSchool—Students complete coursework online.
YPAS Majors:
Dance
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The Dance Department is committed to nurturing the personal and artistic growth of every student. The study of dance is a refined art form for developing self-discipline, integrity, and aesthetic awareness.
In daily technique classes, students receive a solid grounding in classical ballet and modern dance. Numerous performance opportunities are available, including participation in Dance Ensemble, the dance concert, musicals, and touring ensembles.
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Design and Production
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YPAS is the only school in Kentucky to offer Technical Theatre for high school credit. The program is structured to provide classroom, laboratory, and production training in theatrical drafting, lighting, sound, costumes, scenery, and design. CADD drafting assists the Design and Production Department with artistic design for the season’s production schedule. A practical understanding of production techniques, theatrical construction, and backstage organization helps prepare students for participation in a university theatre department or for a professional career. Scholarship opportunities are plentiful for design and production students who maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average.
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Instrumental Music
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Every student chosen to participate in the YPAS Instrumental Music Program must display at least an intermediate level of proficiency and must make a commitment to proceed to an advanced level.
Students schedule at least two “blocks” from intermediate band, concert band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, intermediate strings, string orchestra, and/or full orchestra. Students perform in several concerts, musicals, operas, and/or dance performances each season, as well as solos and ensembles. In addition to the classes listed above, other courses offered includee: jazz improvisation, jazz ensemble, and chamber ensemble.
Piano students receive intensive training in technique, keyboard theory, sight reading, and performance that will prepare them to enter a collegiate program as piano majors. Students are expected to develop personal discipline that includes maintenance of a regular practice schedule. A Kurzweil keyboard/theory lab and a full piano lab facilitate the students’ training. Piano majors perform in two solo recitals each year, and opportunities for accompanying and ensemble performances are available to qualified students.
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Theatre/Musical Theatre
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Theatre
Commitment, self-discipline, responsibility, and a structured approach are all vital elements in the YPAS Theatre Program. The drama curriculum focuses on helping students develop creative modes of expression and communication.
Study in acting is divided into four progressive learning levels, with additional elective courses in playwriting and vaudeville.
Musical Theatre
The interdisciplinary program provides skill-based instruction in dance, acting, and vocal music. Instructional components include music theory, jazz, tap, ballet, modern dance, history of musical theatre, voice and diction, theatrical movement, scene study, characterization, and audition techniques.
High faculty expectations encourage students to balance self-discipline and academic achievement with performance techniques and artistic excellence during this two-year, college preparatory program.
Students may participate in co-curricular performances in a wide variety of venues through workshop presentations, MainStage musicals, and touring ensembles.
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Vocal Music
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The Vocal Music Program at YPAS provides individualized instruction, small ensemble experiences, and participation in a large choir with a varied repertoire and performance schedule.
Through small vocal development classes, students develop skills ion the basics of musicianship and the fundamentals of singing techniques and styles. Instruction is individualized in these classes to help students become better soloists and perform more effectively as ensemble members. Students are introduced to the pronunciation of foreign languages through the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and begin to perform songs of different cultures.
There are ample opportunities for performance in operas/operettas, musicals, dramatic productions and in more intimate concerts for community and school groups.
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Selection of Students
The YPAS Program is available by application to any Jefferson County, Kentucky resident in grades nine through twelve.
Since enrollment is limited, admission to the school is quite competitive. An audition is required for every student wishing to be considered for the program. The following items must be mailed to the school prior to the audition:
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A one-page essay on
“Why I want to attend theYouth Performing Arts School”.
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A resume’.
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A recent photograph of the student.
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A transcript from the student’s present school.
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Two Student Profile Forms
Talent is important, but the desire to learn and the willingness to accept disipline and to assume responsibility are of vital importance for success.
