Christ Church Bronxville's Young at Arts Performs at the United Nations

Young at Arts, a nonprofit outreach program of Christ Church Bronxville, together with the Amani Public Charter School and the City of Mount Vernon Department of Recreation have joined forces to bring a diverse group of young leaders, The Young at Arts Stars and Rising Stars, to perform at the United Nations as special guests at the 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on November 20, 2014. This performance will take place during a United Nations General Assembly so the building will be abuzz with activity and potential “once in a lifetime” learning experiences.

Young at Arts is a non-profit performing arts organization, founded by Sharyn Pirtle and Michael A. Bird, Rector of Christ Church Bronxville, whose mission is to provide an outstanding music and theater education to a diverse group of young people from Southern Westchester County. In some of these areas over fifty percent of children live in poverty and arts education in the schools is virtually non-existent or has been greatly reduced due to budget cuts.

Since its establishment in 2005, YAA has made a demonstrably positive impact in the lives of hundreds of young people. Our students have performed throughout the metropolitan area, at such venues as Lincoln Center, the United Nations, and the Yale Club, and for audiences that have included Mayor Michael Bloomberg, soprano Renee Fleming, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus, media magnate Martha Stewart and singing legend Tony Bennett. And just as important, our students can be seen regularly in performances throughout the community, including the Bronxville Street Fair, the Mount Vernon and Yonkers Tree Lighting ceremonies, The Wartburg Adult Care Community and representing the Junior League of Bronxville at their service venues.

Since 2006, the Mount Vernon Department of Recreation has provided free transportation to the children of Mount Vernon to all of the Young at Arts after school programs. This service, fully supported by Mount Vernon Department of Recreation Commissioner, Darren Morton, has been a key element in opening up the program to youth who may not have access to performing arts programs in their schools.

In 2012, Young at Arts partnered with the Amani Public Charter School in Mount Vernon to provide a music curriculum within the school day. Amani’s mission is to is to provide 100% of Mount Vernon students who attend the school from the 5th through 8th grade with the academic and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in competitive high school programs, college and the career of their choice. Amani graduates are academically accomplished, intellectually curious, and civically engaged young people who tackle challenges diligently and creatively. Music and art play a large part in the equation of creating a dynamic learning environment for the students at Amani.

As Sharyn Pirtle, Young at Arts’ Founder says, “It takes a village to support a child. As our groups work together, our foremost goal is to develop the values of leadership, discipline, integrity and community to create tolerant, global citizens of our world.”

We invite you to come to visit any of the Young at Arts’ campuses, in Mount Vernon, Bronxville or Eastchester and to witness the vital and exuberant work being done every day.