The Young Americans’ mission is to provide education, guidance and inspiration to young performers from any and all walks of life. Through our performing arts college, music outreach programs, and a variety of other performing opportunities, we give these aspiring entertainers the opportunity to hone their talents and the courage to expand their dreams. The Young Americans envision a future where every talented performer is nurtured and taught to find their own voice and encouraged to share their individual truth with the world.

The Young Americans was founded in 1962 as a performance group for young people, gaining a high profile by sharing the stage with well-known performers and featured performances on popular TV shows. The organization was based in Southern California but had a national reach.

In 1992, recognizing the impact of nationwide school budget cuts on access to arts education, the organization added Performing Arts Workshops (Workshops) conducted in partnership with schools, particularly in communities with limited access to arts education. Within a decade, the program expanded internationally, which pre-pandemic, annually reached five to ten countries and more than 200 US communities. The program was expanded to include Summer Camps in addition to school-based Workshops. While Workshops were suspended during the pandemic, The Young Americans developed a Virtual Music Outreach program. The Young Americans is currently reinstating in-person Workshops throughout the country.

In 2002, The Young Americans College of Performing Arts was established to combine real-world performance experiences with a rigorous academic curriculum, offering an Associate of Arts degree. In 2018, the College was accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges.