testimonials
"Young Audiences of Houston brings opportunities to our students that they may not otherwise get. The
programs expose them to different cultures and live performances in a way that makes learning
exciting and meaningful. It really helps our kids see the arts as something they can connect with and be
inspired by.”
Ed White Elementary
“Young Audiences of Houston gives students meaningful opportunities to build creativity, confidence,
and self-expression. Their programs make learning engaging and inspiring, and the impact on young
people lasts far beyond the classroom.”
Roberts Elementary
“It's important to have program such as YAH to positively influence children! It captured their attention
and expands their imagination and critical thinking skills.”
South Belt Elementary
"YAH's grant made this program possible at our tiny rural library branch. We are so grateful for their
generosity, and for spreading joy to our young patrons while simultaneously encouraging their literacy
skill development!"
Albert George Library
"This program engaged our student with a program we no longer had. My students were always excited to go to art. They always wanted to know what they were going to do next. Every time I announced they were going to art they would give me a big cheer. I appreciate and love this program and hope they come back and help our young artist again. This is a program we sincerely need at our school."
Houston ISD
"We were especially thankful to have received the Young Audiences of Houston’s Celebration of
America Project Grant, which provided full funding for the T is for Texas program. Opportunities like this
allowed us to expose our students to the arts, broaden their perspectives, and inspire a love for learning
beyond the classroom."
Booker T. Washington Elem.
"This program in its short amount of time has brought so much light to the students. I recently heard that one of our Sped students at home started playing the guitar and singing."
YES Prep Hobby
"It is such a joy to have the Young Audience programs at our school. When we feel our students need cultural experiences and we are not able to take them out of the school, we are grateful to bring in this organization to provide just what our students need."
Ermel Elementary
"I believe YAH is a valuable program not only for students with disabilities but for all students. It provides an opportunity for students to engage in activities that align with their interests outside of traditional academics. Additionally, it serves as an effective tool for improving student behavior by offering fun, engaging classes that provide a much-needed break from the fast-paced NES learning system in HISD. I strongly believe in the program’s positive impact on student performance, as it broadens their horizons and introduces them to activities that may not be common in their cultural background."
Cullen Middle School
"YAH helps students' self-reflect on new strengths they discover through innovative techniques intertwined with SEL and the Arts. The overall outcome is a child who courageously chooses to participate and see the positive change in behavior and relationships."
Revere Middle School
"Young Audiences of Houston plays a crucial role in enriching the lives of our youth through the transformative power of the arts. Their programs inspire creativity, foster self-expression, and cultivate a sense of belonging among young people. By providing access to diverse artistic experiences, Young Audiences empowers students to explore their talents, develop critical thinking skills, and enhance their emotional well-being. The impact of their initiatives extends beyond the classroom, helping to build a vibrant community where every child can thrive. Investing in the arts through Young Audiences is investing in the future of our youth."
Anderson Academy
"It gives an opportunity for students to see more of the world of Arts & professionals in their craft."
Liberty ISD Art Teacher
"It is important for young audiences to be able to see performances such as this one because it opens them to new cultures."
Sablatura Middle School
"We have always been so please with Young Audiences. So many of our juveniles have lost hope and it always brightens their day, even for a brief time to create and learn while they are spending time with the artists. Lifetime lessons. Thank you!"
Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department
"Young Audiences of Houston provides great cultural and engaging programs that entertain and educate youth at their level."
George Memorial Library
"It is so important for students to be exposed to fine arts such as theatre, music, and more! The arts provide a creative outlet for students to express themselves, inspire future hobbies and careers, and enrich the standard school curriculum. They are also memorable events and add variety in the school year. When you ask a student what their favorite part of a school year was, they are certain to tell you an event such as a field trip or performance."
Roosevelt Alexander Elementary
"Students and teachers alike loved it. One class gave it a 10/10."
North Early Learning Center
"We would love to have Young Audiences return in the Summer. Thank you for giving our children an amazing experience."
Star of Hope Child Development Center
"Being able to provide free (for the community) cultural, theatrical performances for children and young people is important! It gives them the opportunity to open their minds to new ideas, express their emotions and see that there are different types of people in this world."
Aldine Branch Library
"The opportunity for students to meet with new faces in the artwork and hear their stories is the most inspirational thing. This program is doing that job very well!"
Liberty ISD High School Art Teacher
"Quality, quality, quality! Professional, reliable, and reasonable value! Best in Houston. Thank you!"
North Channel Branch Library
"This was our first time using Young Audiences of Houston. I wasn't sure what to expect, but once the actors got on the stage, the audience became engaged and actually enthusiastic about it!"
Silsbee High School
"Young Audiences of Houston plays a crucial role in enriching the lives of youth through its innovative arts education programs. By providing access to diverse artistic experiences, the organization fosters creativity, self-expression, and critical thinking among young people. Participants in these programs not only develop artistic skills but also gain confidence and a sense of community. The interactive workshops and performances encourage collaboration and inclusivity, helping to break down barriers and build relationships among peers. Moreover, Young Audiences of Houston aligns with educational standards, enhancing learning in core subjects through the arts. The holistic approach equips youth with essential life skills, preparing them for future challenges. In essence, Young Audiences of Houston is not just an arts organization; it is a vital resource that empowers the next generation, instilling a passion for the arts and a commitment to a lifelong learning."
Yellowstone Schools
"I am impressed with the dedication and care shown by Rosie towards the children and on what she does."
George Sanchez North Campus
"The arts in schools help students emotional well-being. Not all students achieve at the same level academically, arts can help students feel more connected socially, improve their memory, and reduce stress. Arts can help students improve their writing skills, increase their college aspirations, and reduce disciplinary infractions. That's why programs like Young Audiences are so important in schools today, they support to our kids and teachers in human terms."
Rhodes School for the Performing Arts
"I have had two programs with your organization so far and both were wonderful! I love you willingness to come to Willis and teach a love for art. It's so so important for youth to have art experiences!"
R.F. Meador Library
"Invaluable resource! We are always delighted to host YAH programs."
Rosenberg Library
"This program has been terrific. Every person that I have come into contact with have been nothing short of amazing. The staff is very patient, fun, and energetic. The personalities are all loving and it's easy to know that they love what they do. I would recommend this program to all kids and adults that love different forms of art.
Harris County Leadership Academy
"YAH exposes children and families to high quality professional artists."
Texas Children's Hospital
"Sharing educational performances with the public is essential to build community, family bonding, understanding of other cultures, and increasing confidence of the child in a not always kind urban environment. Thank you."
Mercer Botanic Gardens
"YAH is a very important organization to the youth of Houston, we love having different artist come and give experiences to our families that they otherwise might not be able to experience."
Ronald McDonald House
"It's vital that we provide children access to the arts and Young Audiences of Houston provides public libraries with a great catalog to select programming."
Smartie Pants Academy Center
"Young Audiences makes it really easy to find performances to bring to schools and give kids exposure to many different types of art and cultures. Thank you for making my job so easy!"
Sinclair Elementary
"We brought these programs as an enrichment opportunity for our students. They enjoyed it."
Stafford Elementary
"Young Audiences of Houston is giving children in our area an engaging, fun, and educational activity to brighten their afternoons."
Tracy Gee Community Center
"The interaction with the students was a huge hit. The energy was high so it kept the kids interested. Fun all around!"
CyFair ISD, Black Elementary School
"The youth/young adults that come to Grace Place in the evenings are tired and worn out from a long day of work, school, appointments, etc so they really value a creative, go at your own pace activity like Gerard provided. Charcoal drawing and pointalism are two types of art they might not otherwise get to engage in."
Montrose Grace Place
"Performing Art education programs across the nation are lacking for a myriad of reasons, especially in communities that are underserved and/or are considered low-income. It is imperative that alternatives are offered, and Young Audiences of Houston fills this void."
Harris County Juvenile Probation Department
"It's very important for teens to have positive nurturing activities and Young Audiences of Houston provides that."
Buckner Family Hope Center
"I believe that YA is important because it provides a space for youths to self-express, it contributes to faster development in reading and language skills and just contributing to the overall growth and learning experience of children."
Cleme Manor: Houston
"The artist was very attentive to the children and her program captured their attention for the entire duration - no small feat in a room full of young children at a fast-paced festival. She was timely, professional, and highly skilled, a perfect fit for our school and students. They will remember this experience for years to come!"
Bayou Village School
"I was very satisfied with the overall performances and workshop. I had several students show me their artwork and every time I passed by they seemed busy. I had rave reviews about the performers from my principal and assistant principal. I had a student tell me he was going to dance like them when he grew up. Again, thank you."
Garcia Middle School, Aldine ISD
"My heart is so full of happiness that this was able to be provided for our kids. I'm speechless, I say all that because this is a wonderful experience for our community and most importantly our kids. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart."
Ross Sterling Middle School, Humble ISD
"We so appreciate the excellent conception and execution that was exhibited by all involved in this piece and we look forward to attending more Young Audience performances!"
Trafton Academy
"Working with wiggly Pre-K students to fifth graders who are 'too cool for school' can be a challenge, but Dan [Gordon] and Jean [Donatto] were able to hold each group's attention and make the stories come alive. These folks know how to excite, inform and entertain students. Thank you for sharing their gifts and talents with us!"
Librarian, Herod Elementary School, Houston ISD
"The greatest strength of the program was the creative interaction, opportunity and encouragement allowed for each child to express themselves through art. Mr. Bishop assure that each student understood that there is an artist in each child. No one is alike and it's okay to have a different piece of art."
Teacher, Aldine ISD Hill ES
"Students could get an outside opinion and outlook on someone who is successful in the their profession and that it is a viable career path. Our school doesn't prioritize the arts to get the recognition it deserves, so being involved in this program allows access to not only professionals but a new world of opportunity that I don't fully think students understand themselves. It was a wonderful session and I hope to book even more sessions in the future!"
Fine Arts Teacher, Liberty High School, Liberty ISD
"The greatest strength of the program is that it gets students practicing their language and acting skills. Additionally, the program is thought provoking for students because it covers topics [including] safety, kindness, and culture."
Teacher, Escamilla Elementary School
"Thanks for the excellent educational experience you gave to our students! It is so nice to be able to bring history into the classroom in such a relatable way."
Spring Branch Academic Institute, Spring Branch ISD
"Hope has been working with our younger Special Education class and it has been wonderful to expose the students to art and music. Through this exposure, we have been able to gain students' attention and add a new spin on some things that students were already covering."
Braeburn Elementary, Houston ISD
"I am forever grateful for the partnership we have established. As always the students and myself at Kashmere are enjoying the Wraparound Self-Care Lounge as well as the intervention that Young Audience is providing.”
Kashmere High School, Houston ISD
"The program was very interactive which engaged the children's attention. Joseph was amazing! "
Montessori Country Day School - Crawford Campus
"Twanda provided students a chance to learn about African artifacts and they were able to look at her beautiful display. Her creativity is outstanding!"
Jessie Hinojosa Ec/Pre-K/ K School, Aldine ISD
"The attire and dancing were both beautiful. [The Essence of Mexico] We always appreciate the timely responses when looking to book a performance!"
James Bowie Middle School, Fort Bend ISD
"I’m not really an arts and crafts person, never have been. But Danny made this project so much fun by putting a unique twist on it. it brought back a lot of really great memories. Thank you for that."
Cavalcade Community Center, Harris County Precinct One
"Uniqueness of shadow puppetry and Greg's ability to present stories in a fast-paced, age-appropriate manner for a group of 4 - 7 year olds was the greatest strength of this program. Greg was a delight! He was interesting to listen to, read the kids and their attention-span perfectly, and adjusted accordingly. Kids left commenting about how they wanted to go home and make puppets!”
Silvercrest Elementary, Pearland ISD
“I think it was incredible for the students to see the culture they presented, especially the connection between the Spanish language and traditions and the Nahuatl. Teaching the language through song was incredible. Our students don't often get the opportunity to be immersed in another culture. They were fascinated, and it was so amazing to see them joining in the singing and dancing. After, some of the students were trying to make clothing similar to what they saw. They'll never forget this! Thank you! We hope to have you back sometime!”
St. Mary Catholic School
"The students enjoyed the plot and enjoyed the jokes and action! They said “it was good”. They talked about the play with enthusiasm and were attentive the whole time. The cast said they laughed at jokes in the play that they didn’t expect them to. They [The Ensemble Theatre] are definitely welcome to come back and perform for us. Students could relate to the plot and enjoyed it. Thanks for teaching and entertaining at the same time."
Lakeview Elementary School Principal, Port Arthur ISD
"The greatest strength of the program was having one of the participants going from not wanting to participate to engaging in all the activities and enjoying each one. One of our participants did not want to engage in the activities of the workshop. Ms. Rae was so amazing in the professional and fun way that she presented the class that the participant ended up engaging in every single activity and had fun! Always a pleasure to have Young Audiences of Houston workshops at our center. Such a wonderful experience for the children."
Neighbors in Action
"The artist encouraged student involvement to keep the students attention especially for the age group. She redirected the students well when off track."
Windsor Village Elementary School
"The group performed flawlessly before approximately 800 people for a 45-minute show, carefully explaining each dance, the music and the dress before performing. The educational element was excellent because it put the dances and the music in context. So many times we see the dances but do not know the story behind them, where in Mexico they come from, the significance of the style of dress, and the origins of the music. This time, Jose Sada carefully explained what we were about to see and hear and then performed very well. I received many compliments and congratulations throughout the day about how much everyone, young and old alike, enjoyed and gained from the performance."
Episcopal High School
"It was fun to see the students getting into the movements and actions deeply. Initially, when called upon to perform, they exhibited shyness and hesitation. But by the end of the 4th session, with all the ample opportunities for mini-performances, they were into the arts/acting/performing/using imagination creatively as an aspect of poetry and idioms!"
Kalpana Subbarao, YAH Teaching Artist
"We have so enjoyed having Young Audiences on our campus! The teachers and students have had the opportunity to build strong connections to content through creativity. I have had the opportunity to visit four classrooms and the experiences have been amazing – the students are so engaged! Thank you again for coordinating these meaningful experiences for our campus."
French Elementary, Klein ISD
"The flexibility and adjustment to the students' needs day-of programming was a great strength of our YAH workshop. They [students] were particularly stressed to be in school during their spring break and Miss Breaker was able to give them reflective and expressive outlets for them. Miss Breaker was also able to provide 1-on-1 academic and college counseling for one of our attending seniors. She destigmatized and laid out some options for the student to pursue in the short term to set her up for success this coming fall."
Wheatley High School, Houston ISD
"The kids LOVED the performances and the letters from William Shakespeare! As you see, some even replied and brought them for me to send to Robin Goodfellow. They were especially excited about the books you sent for our library. That was so kind of you! Thank you for all you've done to bring literature to life at Central Elementary in Palacios, Texas. Hope to see you again, next year!"
Central Elementary, Palacios ISD
"It [ the workshop ] included everybody (all age groups). It did not require previous knowledge. It was easy to follow and it was a lot of fun for all the people who participated. Everybody was participating from students to teachers. Even the principal came to participate with us. There was a girl with a heavy handicap in a wheelchair and she really had fun listening and clapping. It was the first time I was doing this in school. Everybody had a blast. Many people asked questions about drumming. It was good for everybody from little kids who came with their parents, to the students to adults. Thank you."
Kempner High School, Fort Bend ISD
"I would like to thank you for your help coming to our campus a couple of weeks ago. I was able to visit with her during one of her sessions and was very impressed with the way she taught our students. We really appreciate the support from your organization."
Principal, Aldine ISD
“Each of our students have a powerful story to tell, and Alief ISD is grateful to be a partner in Young Audiences of Houston’s impactful efforts to provide arts-based learning to Houston youth. YAH’s programs have consistently provided our students with exciting new ways to learn, explore, and grow together while helping them become well-rounded leaders of tomorrow.”
Alief ISD - Afterschool Program
"Young Audiences of Houston's programs give students a healthy outlet for expression that they don't always have."
Channelview ISD
“Being a mentor felt like a privilege because I was a role model to the student. It meant a great deal to me to be able to help and encourage the students.”
Michelle Mai, 11th Grade, Volunteer High School Mentor
“I want to express my gratitude to Young Audiences Houston for its continued support of its teaching artists. I’ve never worked for an organization that went the extra mile the way that Young Audiences does. I really appreciate you!”
Liz Conces-Spencer, YAH Teaching Artist
“I had a fabulous visit last night at the Montrose Grace Place with Keisha. She has such an incredible rapport with the youth. It was very hard to believe that this was only their second week together.”
Harris County Department of Education
“Our YAH teaching artist had fabulous ideas and the kids loved all of the sensory things she brought to teach them the lesson. It added so much more to the lesson. I will start doing that more in my class!”
Klein ISD
“The After- School Program brought an array of activities and exposure to our young inspiring students. It has truly been a pleasure working with you and the talented artist that you have provided.”
Texas Serenity Academy, (Gano Campus)
“We hope to have one of your many artists back at our school in the future. We love having Young Audience actors come out to Becker.”
The Becker School
“Mr. Russo is very professional and his calmness has worked very well with our students. The students are always looking forward to doing crafts with Mr. Russo.”
Chancellor Elementary School (Alief ISD)
“The dancers from Dance Afrikana were phenomenal and although students viewed virtually, we knew they were engaged by reactions in different classrooms. The interactive portion also had a high number of participants! Our students were really engaged and listening.”
KIPP Sharpstown
“I think that Young Audiences fills in a gap and a void that most schools have concerning the arts. In addition to the typical musicals and plays, I see we can use your organization for more exposure to the arts and music. It is important to have an organization you can reach out to so one can expand the learning process."
St. Francis Episcopal School
"This program was one of the most amazing I have seen! The children were highly engaged and attentive! & the artist was so creative!!! We loved it!"
Nehemiah Center
“My heart is so full of happiness that this was able to be provided for our kids. I'm speechless, I say all that because this is a wonderful experience for our community and most importantly our kids. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart."
Humble ISD
“We would love to have Young Audiences return in the Summer. Thank you for giving our children an amazing experience.”
Star of Hope Child Development Center
“It never ceases to amaze me the positive impact that YAH programs have on the children as the children discover talents that have through various workshops but also mold character.”
Neighbors in Action
“Young Audiences of Houston provides great cultural and engaging programs that entertain and educate youth at their level.”
George Memorial Library
“It is so important for students to be exposed to fine arts such as theatre, music, and more! The arts provide a creative outlet for students to express themselves, inspire future hobbies and careers, and enrich the standard school curriculum. They are also memorable events and add variety in the school year. When you ask a student what their favorite part of a school year was, they are certain to tell you an event such as a field trip or performance.”
Roosevelt Alexander Elementary
“Students and teachers alike loved it. One class gave it a 10/10.”
North Early Learning Center