HBO Presents 'Masterclass,' 37 High Schoolers Hit NYC

Thirty seven of the nation's top high school student actors, musicians, singers, dancers, writers, photographers, visual artists and filmmakers will travel to New York City for an intensive week of interdisciplinary artistic workshops and performances, April 17-23, sponsored by YoungArts, the core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. The students, YoungArts Gold and Silver winners from all across the country, will perform and exhibit at the Baryshnikov Arts Center and Affirmation Arts Gallery during the 2010 In the Studio Week, a Celebration of YoungArts Gold and Silver Winners.

This week-long intensive program includes a public studio performance and exhibition on Wednesday, April 21, 2010. The performance begins at 7p.m. at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, 450 W. 37th Street, by the Dance, Theater, Voice, Classical Music, Jazz and Writing winners, followed by an exhibition by the Visual Arts, Photography and Cinematic Arts winners at Affirmation Arts gallery, 523 W. 37th Street.

While in New York, the students will participate in master classes and be mentored by renowned artists including Melissa Manchester (Voice), Gregory Mosher (Theater), John Guare (Writing), Matthew Rushing (Dance), Ted Rosenthal (Jazz), Rebecca Stenn (Dance), Ron McCurdy (Jazz), Jean Shinn (Visual Arts and Photography), Eddye Pierce Young (Voice) and Jlove (Writing).

These YoungArts winners were among a group of 142 high school seniors from across the nation who came to Miami for YoungArts Week 2010, a five-day intensive training and performance program with world-renowned artists. The young artists were selected from an original application pool of up to 7,000 students.

In conjunction with the 2010 In the Studio week, on Thursday, April 18, HBO will air the first of its 9-part series, MasterClass a documentary on YoungArts featuring Placido Domingo, Frank Gehry, Liv Ullmann, Bill T. Jones, Julian Schnabel and other former YoungArts Master Teachers. The series tells the story of nine world-class creative artists who shared their art and life experience with YoungArts students who represent the best of a new generation of talented artists in America.

YoungArts is the core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. It is the signature national organization that recognizes and supports America's most talented 17-18 year olds in the visual, literary and performing arts. YoungArts is the sole nominating agency for Presidential Scholars in the Arts. The foundation provides emerging artists with financial support and life changing experiences with internationally renowned artists. YoungArts alumni go on to become leading professionals in their fields and include Vanessa Williams, Raúl Esparza, Adrian Grenier and Josh Groban.

Tickets for the April 21 performance and exhibit are $20 for adults and $10 for students and are available at (212) 279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com. For further information on In the Studio Week, call 305.377.1140 or email inthestudio@youngarts.org. For further information on YoungArts, visit www.youngarts.org.

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