Young Audiences, Inc. of Houston

HISTORY YAH was founded by violinist Fredel Lack, and received non-profit status, in 1956, with support from Ima Hogg and Mrs. William P. Hobby. From the 1950’s to the 1990’s YAH focused on presenting interactive in-school performances by professional classical, jazz, folk, multi-cultural, dance, theater, opera, storytelling and visual artists. Supporting the educational trends and legislation from the 1990s to the present, YAH further expanded into presenting workshops (1-3 sessions) and residencies (3 or more sessions), which use the arts to support core-curriculum skills and allow individual artists to work more effectively with small groups through “hands-on” projects. Now celebrating its 56th year, YAH works with a roster of 78 teaching artists to provide 2,200 presentations a year, reaching 230,000 children, including schools, libraries, community centers, and hospitals within the Greater Houston area. YAH has been recognized as an exemplary chapter by the YA National chapter, and the YA National chapter is the first arts in education organization to receive the National Medal of Arts by the US Government.

MISSION The mission of Young Audiences of Houston (YAH) is to educate and inspire children through the arts, to make the arts an integral part of the school curriculum, and to advance the field of arts in education though professional development and community partnerships.