Recent News
Reflections and plans for 2022
It's been a long 18 months since the last time we ran student programming. When we first shut things down to ensure the safety of our community in March 2020, we thought we'd be able to get things up and running again in a few months. Then a few months became a few...
Winter Reading List
Hi everyone- We hope that you are doing well and finding what you need to care for yourself during this time. As we enter an especially challenging Winter season, we are trying to spend some time reflecting on our work and what it means to us (and, hopefully, to...
On Freedom, Healing, and Learning
To Our AYA Friends and Family- We hope you all are well and finding what you need to both show up meaningfully and care for yourself during this time. The murders of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks, and George Floyd- the latest in the history of...
Reflections and Highlights from 2019
This year, 13 amazing artists stepped into the studio to record songs for our two albums with YouthBuild Philadelphia and Girard College. While there were countless moments throughout the year that were meaningful to us, we wanted to share just a few memories here...
Musical Legacies
Last week, we had the pleasure of working alongside a wonderful organization- the Smithsonian Latino Center- for ¡Descubra! : an event celebrating the power and beauty of Latina artists past and present. When two alumni of our program, Madeline Danielle and Veronica...
2018 New Music Is Here!!
Over the last two months, we've been hard at work to finalize, mix, master, press, and finally CELEBRATE THE RELEASE of our 2018 AYA Albums from YouthBuild Philadelphia, Kensington CAPA, and Olney Charter High. We are happy to say that all of this amazing new music is...
Reflections on Confidence :: Student Studio Sessions 2018
Stepping into the studio- whether its for the first time or the 100th- can be one of the most incredible and most intimidating experiences of a career in music. Taking this step, especially for the young artists that are part of AYA, requires courage, practice, and an...
Happy New Year!!!
At AYA, as a program based in courageous creativity and a knowledge of the incredible things that every young person is capable of, we believe that dreams are to be followed and goals are to be stated proudly. So, as we all continue our personal, professional, and...
Student Performances!
Did you know.... ...the U.S. live music industry is expected to grow to $11 Billion by 2019, up from $9 Billion in 2014? As Streaming Services like Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music make it easier and cheaper for consumers to gain...
Kensington CAPA Releases Second Album
This weekend, AYA Project celebrated a major milestone with the release of the Kensington CAPA site's second album, Unmasked. Featuring 7 students in 10th-12th grade, 5 of which were returning members, the album showcases not only amazing talent but also amazing...
Artist Spotlight: Kenny Automatic
As we begin recording for our second edition of the AYA Project, we want to take a second to highlight one of the most talented artists to grace our program: Kenny Automatic. Still 5 months from his High School graduation, Kenny was well versed in the Philly rap scene...
AYA Project Round 2 is On
This week, we reached a major milestone: funding for the 2017 edition of Aspiring Young Artists Project has officially been raised- and we will officially be bringing our program to twice as many schools (and students) beginning this January. We could not be more...