Young Audiences Arts for Learning New Jersey and Eastern PA Announces New Programming

Princeton, N.J. | April 13, 2026—Young Audiences Arts for Learning (YA) is excited to welcome a new group of talented teaching artists to its roster and to announce new assembly performances from existing roster artists.

As part of YA’s mission to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts, these accomplished teaching artists will lead interactive performances in schools. The artists represent a wide range of talents and art forms.

The new teaching artists and their programs include:

• Istanbul Trio - Music

  • Sounds of the Silk Road: Music, Stories and Cultural Connection | This interactive performance introduces students to the music, traditional instruments and cultural traditions of the Silk Road and Anatolia. Using instruments, students experience how music connects different cultures, languages, and histories across Turkey, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. For grades K-12.

• Talie - Music

  • Krik? Krak! With Talie & Youba | Join Haitian singer-songwriter and guitarist Talie and Senegalese musician Youba on kora and djembe for a concert full of folk music and story. Audiences are invited to sing along, dance, and learn more about folk music, Haiti, Senegal, and themselves. For grades K-12.

To schedule a program, fill out a programming inquiry form or reach out to Donna Reckelhoff, Programming Director, at donnajr@yanjep.org or 866-500-9265.

Existing roster artists who are offering new assembly performances include:

• Feel It, Sing It, Live It: The Story of Soul Music & You with Carl Brister - Music

  • In this interactive performance, audiences will learn about soul music pioneers from the late '60’s and '70’s, the genre’s historical roots, and its ties to the African-American fight for civil rights. They’ll discover soul’s impact on American culture and explore how to turn their own story into “soul” music. For grades 3-12.

• Drum it Out! with Josh Robinson - Music

  • An exhilarating, unifying, and interactive presentation. The artist will share some of his personal way-finding story of how music helped him navigate trauma and loss. Josh will share and demonstrate how he uses drumming and music in the world to build authentic connections. For grades 5-12; great performance for an all-staff professional learning day.

• Classical-ish with Musiquita - Music

  • Through performance and storytelling, students experience Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, jazz-influenced, and popular styles, discovering how musical ideas transform across time. For grades K-6.

• Jammin Djembe Folktale Sizzle! with Yearning to Learn Inc. - Theatre

  • Students journey across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Canary Islands through storytelling, music, and dance. This dynamic and interactive performance includes call-and-response, prompts to guess what happens next, singing, and movement. This multi-sensory storytelling experience creates an energetic experience that transforms reading into adventures that students will never forget. For grades PreK-6

To schedule a program, fill out a programming inquiry form or reach out to Donna Reckelhoff, Programming Director, at donnajr@yanjep.org or 866-500-9265.

Plays from our traveling theatre teaching artists include:

• The Fisherman and the Flounder | Enchantment Theatre Company

  • Enchantment Theatre’s telling of this classic Grimm fairy tale uses expressive masks, life-size puppets, original music and imaginative scenic effects. They bring this beloved tale to life in a uniquely magical way. For grades K-5.

• The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present two classics

  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream | When starry-eyed young lovers and zany would-be actors cross paths with mischief-making fairies in a magical forest, the result is one of the world’s most uproarious comedies. This Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey production is a fanciful envisioning of the Bard’s classic: an ideal “first Shakespeare” for elementary grades and a riotous roller-coaster for teens and teachers. For grades 3-12

  • Romeo & Juliet | Never was there a story of more woe! Immerse yourself in one of Shakespeare's most renowned tragedies and find out just how powerful the forces of love and hate truly are in this Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey production. For grades 6-12.

To schedule a program, fill out a programming inquiry form or reach out to Donna Reckelhoff, Programming Director, at donnajr@yanjep.org or 866-500-9265.

YA’s artist roster is carefully vetted to ensure that our teaching artists are highly skilled professionals who both educate and excel in their art forms. Each artist undergoes a rigorous audition and review process, guaranteeing that schools receive the highest quality arts education experience. In addition, each artist collaborates with Young Audiences staff and school partners to ensure that schools receive programming that aligns with school priorities and needs.

To schedule a program, fill out a programming inquiry form or reach out to Donna Reckelhoff, Programming Director, at donnajr@yanjep.org or 866-500-9265.

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About Young Audiences Arts for Learning New Jersey and Eastern PA

Young Audiences Arts for Learning NJ & Eastern PA, established in 1973, is the leading arts-in-education resource in the region, offering artist-led performances, workshops, residencies, and professional learning programs to schools across New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. With an extensive roster of professional teaching artists spanning various art forms, Young Audiences has impacted more than 15 million children in its 50-year history. Committed to inspiring young minds and fostering inclusive learning environments, Young Audiences strives to ensure that every child receives rich and meaningful arts experiences. Through diverse and accessible programs, the organization aims to strengthen arts education, meet curriculum standards, and enrich cultural life in communities throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. To learn more, visit yanjep.org.