Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces 8th Annual “Adirondack Trust Company Festival of Young Artists”
May 12, 2025
Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces
8th Annual “Adirondack Trust Company Festival of Young Artists”
Sunday, June 1 @ 2 PM
Free community festival to showcase hundreds of the Capital Region’s brightest young dancers, musicians, singers, poets and visual artists, culminating in a large-scale performance on the SPAC stage
Three “Outstanding Artists” receive scholarships in visual, literary and performing arts
New Student Composer Contest to premiere at the festival with Empire State Youth Orchestra
Saratoga Springs, NY (May 12, 2025) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced that “The Adirondack Trust Company Festival of Young Artists” will return for its eighth annual event on Sunday, June 1 from 2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Following the theme Wonder – inspired by the work of 24th U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón – the festival will celebrate the collaborative creativity of more than 700 of the Capital Region’s brightest young dancers, musicians, singers, poets, and visual artists all in support of SPAC’s mission to provide free and accessible arts programming for local youth.
Featuring students from local schools and organizations such as Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO), Capital District Youth Chorale, Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet, Narthanalaya School of the Arts, and the SPAC School of the Arts, the afternoon will include individual pop-up performances and art displays, culminating in a large-scale, coordinated production on SPAC’s stage. As part of the production, an original musical composition by festival student, Siyi Guo (Guilderland HS, Grade 12), will premiere on the SPAC stage, performed by the ESYO Symphony Orchestra.
SPAC also revealed the “Outstanding Artist” award winners: Jenny Fang (Shenendehowa HS, Grade 11) for visual art; Gianna Zhang (Shaker HS, Grade 9) for literary art; and Audrey Bedell and Iris Yang (Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet, Grade 12) for performing arts. Students in each category will receive a $500 scholarship to support the further development of their craft at the festival. The complete online student gallery is available at www.spacfoya.org.
“We are proud to see the festival continue to grow and evolve this year with the addition of a sensory area and ASL interpretation. These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to fostering greater inclusion and accessibility for all members of our community,” said Dennis Moench, VP of Education.
“Nothing is more life-affirming than witnessing the joy and talent of our region’s youth. Inviting these students to perform on our campus is the perfect way to celebrate the opening of our summer season,” said Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “We are grateful to The Adirondack Trust Company for their continued support of this exuberant, signature SPAC event, now in its eighth year.”
Kicking off at 2:00 p.m., SPAC’s grounds will be transformed into a festive celebration and will feature individual pop-up performances by student ensembles from the Capital Region, fine art displays, food stands, poetry readings, lawn games and immersive art activities, plus free ice cream provided by Stewart’s Shops. At 4:45pm, hundreds of young artists will gather to present a celebratory concert on SPAC’s main stage, featuring large-scale productions that combine music, song, poetry, visual art, and dance.
This event is free to the community; however, registration is required for admission. Visit spacfoya.org for details.
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About SPAC Education:
Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s education programs reach over 50,000 individuals, offer more than 1,500 classes and events, and partner with 120+ schools and nonprofit organizations across the Saratoga, Adirondack, and Capital Regions of New York State. SPAC Education provides arts access to people of all ages, abilities, and demographics, while prioritizing historically marginalized groups and identities. Flagship offerings include the “Classical Kids” in-school music and dance program; “SPAC Dance Project” in-school dance residencies; “Access the Arts” weekly classes for adults from local day habilitation programs; the “Creative Connections” Saturday program for children from local youth-serving organizations; the “Summer Nights at SPAC” outreach initiative, providing transportation, meals, and performance tickets to families from under-resourced communities; and the “Festival of Young Artists,” an annual event that brings together and celebrates hundreds of student dancers, singers, musicians, poets, and visual artists. Additional music, theater, and dance programs are offered year-round at SPAC School of the Arts, a state-of-the-art educational facility dedicated to furthering SPAC’s mission to promote inclusion, equity, and access.
The SPAC School operates out of the Lewis A. Swyer Studios on the National Museum of Dance campus in Saratoga Spa State Park. www.spacschool.org
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its tranquil setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts.
SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.