Youth Performing Arts School

The Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) is a performing arts school in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, that concentrates on various vocal, instrumental, theatre, musical theatre and dance disciplines for high school students. Students who attend have no less than a ninety-minute block of arts studies each day (sometimes more), with the balance of their academic classes at duPont Manual High School. YPAS is one of only 100 U.S. schools of its type. Students are selected from within Jefferson County through a vigorous audition process. Annually, about 85% of student graduates attend major performing arts colleges.

Main YPAS building

Among other things, YPAS is known for its outstanding orchestra, the Philharmonia. Under the direction of former Orchestral Director Lyndon Lawless (1996–2006), the YPAS Philharmonia gave performances at Carnegie Hall in New York, was featured on National Public Radio's "From the Top" and performed in various venues throughout the United States. The Philharmonia is an all-string orchestra composed of around 30 of the region's finest string players, many of whom go on to attend professional music conservatories or music-based colleges such as Juilliard.

Perhaps the most widely viewed YPAS performance, took place at President George W. Bush's first term Inauguration, when the YPAS chorus sang "America the Beautiful". United States Senator and duPont Manual grad Mitch McConnell was present at the inaugural performance.[1]

The Youth Performing Arts School Concert Choir has consistently received superior ratings and prestigious invitations to perform from 1978 to 2000 under its founding director David Brown, from 2000 to 2011 under Dr. S. Timothy Glasscock, and from 2011 to present by Jacob Cook. Since 1998, the choir has toured Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, England, Italy, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, performing in such sought-after venues as St. Mark's in Venice, Notre Dame in Paris, Rochester Cathedral, Saint Peter's in Rome, Saint Susanna in Rome, Santiago de Compostela, Catedral de Madrid, Catedral de Lisboa, St. Stephansdom in Vienna, Stiftskirche in Durnstein, Church of Holy Corpse in Cesky Krumlov, Melk Abbey, Schweiklberg Abbey in Vilshofen, and Chateau D'Ambois, amid many other fine venues. The Concert Choir performs music from every style period and in eleven foreign languages. The Choir is frequently requested to perform for dignitaries and social events throughout the Commonwealth and the nation. The choir has sung for three presidents, numerous governors, backed up various pop stars such as Josh Groban (2001, 2002, 2003) and has performed frequently with the Louisville Chorus, Kentucky's longest thriving professional choral arts agency.

YPAS offers the following majors: Design and Production, Vocal, Orchestra, Band, Piano, Guitar, Theater, Musical Theatre, and Dance.

Though often overlooked, YPAS also offers many arts classes for non-majors who attend duPont Manual High School.