YES We Can!
U.S. Embassy Sponsors Arts Scholarships

The Embassy of the United States of America is offering full tuition and scholarship to interested students to attend the “Youth Excellence on Stage (YES) Academy Thailand 2009” organized by American Voices, in cooperation with Silpakorn University Faculty of Music.  This new week-long performing arts training academy for Thai youth makes its debut October 17, 2009.  Workshops and classes will continue daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm through October 24.  The YES Academy will culminate in a gala concert of Broadway Musical Theater and Jazz by the students and faculty on October 24 at 4:30 pm at the Thailand Cultural Center Small Hall.

From October 17 to 24, 2009, the YES Academy Thailand will offer a comprehensive program of daily classes in Broadway Musical Theater and Jazz on the campus of Silpakorn University Faculty of Music in Thonburi to up to 75 participants.  The YES program faculty of eight is drawn from the most prestigious universities and cultural institutions of the United States and Thailand.

Applications are being accepted from talented high school and university students from throughout Thailand.  Please visit www.yesth.com for more information and application forms.

The YES Academy is organized by American Voices, a Houston-based NGO with almost two decades of experience in international performing arts programming.  American Voices is committed to providing capacity building performing arts programs that create opportunities to broaden youth horizons through cultural engagement.  American Voices is active internationally with similar programs in Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Egypt that aim to create access to study opportunities in American genres such as Broadway and Jazz.  American Voices also has an extensive program of donations of music scores and method books to over 100 universities and conservatories around the worlds including six in Thailand.  The Executive Director, pianist John Ferguson, is no stranger to Thailand, having organized numerous cultural projects here, including a series of performances with the Bangkok Opera in 2003 of George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.”

Media are invited to view classes and performances.  To schedule interviews and/or appointments to view a class or performance, please contact John Ferguson at john.ferguson@americanvoices.org or Polwit Opapant at 089-494-0505 or email YesTH2009@gmail.com.

Please visit the American Voices website http://www.americanvoices.org for more information.  Video from similar projects in other countries can be found on You Tube at http:/www.YouTube.com/americanvoices.  High-resolution photos of American Voices can be found at www.americanvoices.org/press.  Suggested high-resolution photos to accompany media article can be found at http://americanvoices.org/press/hr/unity/05/image (Jazz with Gene Aitken) or http://americanvoices.org/press/hr/unity/08/image (Broadway with John Ferguson).

Complete information on the YES Academy Thailand is available in Thai and English on http://www.yesth.com.