Mountain
Lake PBS is proud to partner with the New York State Summer School of
the Arts (NYSSSA) to celebrate young people who have their ambitions
aimed at the arts. NYSSSA is a 45 year old program of the New York
State Education Department that operates 4-week residential programs in
ballet, choral studies, dance, media arts, orchestral studies, theatre
and visual arts, for approximately 425 of the state’s most talented
youths. The schools provide intensive training in an environment where
students experience the rigorous discipline of the daily life of a
professional artist. The school is open to all high school age
students who qualify, and no student who qualifies is denied NYSSSA’s
opportunities because they cannot afford them. NYSSSA represents the
wide spectrum of cultural, ethnic, social, and economic diversity that
is New York State.
FOCUSED: Creative Youth in the Empire State is
a special television program that follows students from audition
through performance during their journey at NYSSSA. These talented teens
represent the future of the arts. You’ll see their dedication,
determination and drive. Some of the students come from rural areas
where working with top professionals in the arts would not otherwise be
an option for them.
Be
inspired by their discovery and growth as artists and as young adults,
and learn why this program has been a life-changing experience for more
than 20,000 students.
The program, produced by Paul Larson, airs tonight at 9pm on Mountain Lake PBS. It repeats Friday at 2am, Friday at noon, and Saturday at 5pm.
