Japan Summer | The Young Americans - We bring music education, dance, and concerts to schools worldwide with our Music Outreach Program

2013

APRIL-AUGUST

Japan-Korea Summer Music Outreach Tour

In 2006, The International Music Outreach Tour made its debut in Japan. That first year we visited 5 schools and 650 students. Today we are now touring to Japan for 11 months throughout a year conducting 40 workshops for over 10,000 students.

Visit the website for Japanese Workshops

Tour Dates | 2013

APRIL 27-28-29

Olympic Center Workshop

MAY 1

Food Expo Workshop

MAY 2-3-4

Kashiba Workshop

MAY 5-6

Creo Osaka Workshop

MAY 8-9

Nishiyamato Workshop

MAY 10-11-12

Takatsuki Workshop

MAY 14-15-16

Doshisha Workshop

MAY 18-19

Kobe Workshop

MAY 21-22-23

Creo Osaka Workshop

MAY 25-26

ECC at Sofia Sakai Workshop

MAY 27-28-30

Daito Workshop

MAY,JUNE 30-1-2

Hamamatsu Workshop

JUNE 4-5

Seijo Gakuen Workshop

JUNE 7-8-9

Toyohaski Workshop

JUNE 14-16

Hannou Workshop

JUNE 18

ECC Staff Workshop

JUNE 19-20

Company Workshop

JUNE 22-23

Company Workshop

JUNE 25

Yamano Workshop

JUNE 26

Asuka Mirai High School Workshop

JUNE 28-29-30

Tsukuba Workshop

JULY 5-6-7

Ageo Workshop

JULY 8-9

Olympic Center Workshop

JULY 10

Hospital Workshop

JULY 12-13-14

Mushashimurayama Workshop

JULY 16-17-18

Kosei Gakuen Workshop

JULY 19-20-21

Arakawa Workshop

JULY 23-24-25

Mitaka Workshop

JULY 27-28

Olympic Center Workshop

JULY,AUG 30-31-1

Chofu Workshop

AUG 2-3-4

Shonandai Workshop

AUG 6-7-8

Asagiri Summer Camp Workshop

AUG 9-10-11

Urayasu Workshop

AUG 13-14-15

Miyamae Workshop

AUG 16-17-18

Edogawa Workshop

AUG 20-21-22

Yokohama Workshop

AUG 23-24-25

Olympic Center Workshop

AUG 28-29

2-Hour Concert

View Cast & Bio

Adam Greene

Colorado, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2010
BEFORE YAs: I planned on playing football at Colorado University.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I played football, was vice president of student council, and was involved with drama.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I’ve always wanted to travel, perform, and work with new people, Young Americans is the perfect thing to do so.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan on moving to Japan and teaching English.

Alexis Gomez

California, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2009
BEFORE YAs: To go to Cal State Fullerton. I didn’t know what I wanted to be after high school.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Show Choir, Theater, and soccer.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I took a workshop in high school and fell in love with the group. I loved how they wanted us to be ourselves.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I have always wanted to work for Disney. I also plan on getting a teaching degree and eventually opening up my own day care.

Amber Carpenter

California, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2010
BEFORE YAs: I planned on going to school and studying musical theater.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I participated in student government, golf, and community theater.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined because I wanted to give kids the same gift that I received when I took a YA workshop.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan on going to school and studying musical theater, later on becoming a teacher and a great mom.

Andrew Grotto

Wisconsin, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2009
BEFORE YAs: I actually couldn’t make up my mind. God gave me a direction when I met the YAs.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I did choir and drama.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined because I wanted to give kids the same feeling of acceptance and love that I felt taking the workshop.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I will go where ever God takes me. I would like to be a youth pastor and share the gospel throughout the world.

Anna McLintic

England

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: I wanted to travel and be a singer songwriter wherever that took me!
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I did choir, saxophone and Dance. I sang in a band with my classmates at the weekends too.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: It was suggested to me by an old friend and YA and seemed to me the perfect combination of everything I like about music and performing.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: To continue to travel and write music. To grow as an artist and teach the importance of keeping music programmes in schools.

Aurora Eagen

California, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: I was interested in spending a year in Uganda doing humanitarian work.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: My extra curricular activities included volleyball, acting, choral, photography, piano, swing dancing, blues dancing, church.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: The Young Americans seemed to take all the things I had wanted to do at some point in my life and put them all into one program.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I want to travel. In a way I will probably go back to what I originally intended to do after High school in different places, but I also want to further my education at some point as well.

Becca Tarr

New Hampshire, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: I planned on going to Emerson College for Musical Theatre.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: My extracurricular activities included select choir, marching band, drama club, and community theatre.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined so that I could give children all around the world the same joy that The Young Americans gave me when they came to my school.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I want to keep traveling and seeing as many places and meeting as many people as I can in my life. Of course I want to keep performing, and someday I would love to open up a children’s theatre!

Brodie Case

California

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: Attend Victor Valley Community College, and run tech for a community theatre.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: ASB, Drama, Choir, Mock Trial, National Forensics League, International Thespian Society.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I’ve always wanted to travel, plus I love teching shows.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: Get a job at a respected theatre or with a touring show doing tech.

Charleston Troutman

Georgia

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: I attended Georgia College & State University for two years pursuing a pre-law degree.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I participated in musical theatre, ballet, church choir.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: The Young Americans inspired me to be myself and pursue my dreams. I joined the group to share that same message with kids around the world.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I may go back to school to pursue law.

Chris Martin

New York, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2009
BEFORE YAs: Attend SUNY Geneseo for Medicine or Theatre until I learned I was accepted as a Young American..
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: My school activities consisted of drama, musical, tennis, wrestling, broadcasting.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I came to YA’s because I wanted to move to California, pursuing my passions and living every day like its a party!
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan to keep having fun, auditioning, teaching, learning, acting, and making a difference in other’s lives.

Christian Wallace

Tennessee

Cody Smith

Indiana, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2009
BEFORE YAs: I planned on working and going to college for teaching.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I was in choir.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined because I had a friend back home that was a young American alumni and she told me about the group. Later I went to boyne and auditioned there.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan to go back home and work as a hip hop teacher in my hometown.

Cordell Hagmann

California, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: I was supposed to attend a Cal State University and figure out my life from there. I didn’t really have a specific direction.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I was a show choir kid and coached soccer teams on the side.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: Grayden Smith told me to audition, so I did without knowing anything about the Young Americans. Literally, I thought they only had a Christmas Show.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan to go to school and finish a degree in the Music field, but behind the scenes in either Agency or Music Communications.

Courtney Ruff

Iowa

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: I planned to go to Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa to major in Elementary Education and minor in Theatre as well as run cross country and track. I actually did this for two years before joining the Young Americans in 2012.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I ran cross country and track; played soccer, softball, and basketball; was in show choir and choir; participated in theatre and speech; was a member of student council, national honors society, Spanish national honors society, and a group called Undefeated.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I had always had both a passion for performing and teaching and I felt as though the Young Americans would be a way to combine both of my dreams. I also knew that through this program I would have the chance to inspire others and learn from people from all over the world.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I want to continue performing in some way. I also want to teach at an Indian Reservation and start my own Children’s Theatre.

Gabe Pedre

Florida, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: I wanted to go to Berklee College of Music in Boston.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Piano, Singing.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined because my whole life I wanted to go to Japan.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I want to move to Japan and teach for a few years and then try to make it as a recording artist/songwriter.

Gary Yu

California, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2008
BEFORE YAs: Plans were auditioning for artist training programs while attending school for Business Management/Economics.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Extra curricular in high school was show choir.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined because I took one of their workshops at my school and saw the same dreams and goals of spreading positivity to people through music and art.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: Continue pursuing my dream as a performer and attending an artist training company.

Haley Krehbiel

Idaho, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: I was enrolled in a performing arts school to get my Bachelor of Fine Arts.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I was involved with choir and performing.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: The Young Americans came to my school when I was in 8th grade and I loved it, I then went to Nebraska Camp and realized I had to be a part of it. Teaching and performing is what I wanted to do.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I want to go into primary school teaching or open my own business with event coordinating (including decor and everything that has to do with events).

Helen Smith

Ireland

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: My plan was either to go into television and film studies OR be a dentist.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Gymnastics and dancing were my main hobbies but then I also played on sports teams such as hockey, soccer and gaelic (an irish football sport).
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: The YAs came to my school 3 times while I was there and I took every workshop. They brought the exact something I was looking for into my life and I just couldn’t deny it. They captured me from the start with what they did so I just had to try out.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I’m not really sure what plans I have after YAs, I would certainly love to continue in the industry and put all the knowledge I have gained and will gain to good use.

J’Lin Jordan

Louisiana

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: Plans were to Southeastern University and major in music education.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Extra curriculars were choral, band, Key Club, Bible Club, etc.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined YA’s because they changed my life in such a positive way, so I want to share that with other kids around the world.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: Continue performing and helping kids, and maybe someday become a teacher!

Jarek Stultz

NEW KID YEAR: 2006
BEFORE YAs: I was planning to move to New York to pursue a dance career.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Dance, weight lifting, and cross country.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: They changed the way that I thought about dance they really opened my eyes to how expressive an art it can really be and I wanted to share that with other people.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan to perform for a few more years and then when I feel like the time is right I want to open up my own studio.

Jason Liebson

California

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: Plans were attend St. Olaf College and double major in Music Education and Theatre.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Extra curriculars were drama, orchestra (viola/double bass), jazz band (voice/alto sax), aerial arts (silk, static/flying trapeze).
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I wanted to perform, teach, and see the world, so Young Americans made the most sense.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan to go back to a university (possibly overseas) and finish school, maybe perform for a little bit, and then teach music somewhere in the UK!

Jordan McWhorter

Nebraska, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2010
BEFORE YAs: After high school, I planned to go to college in Omaha to study Law.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Extra-curriculars were theatre, choir, dance, and German.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I was really affected by the Midwest 2008 workshop in Nebraska, and I wanted the opportunity to pour my passion for music and dance into enriching the lives of others.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan on finishing all of the classes I need for my BA, and apply for med school!

Kacie Harris-Strine

Florida, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2009
BEFORE YAs: I went to College for 2 years. My major was in education.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Dance Major, National Honor Society, National Honor Society for Dance Arts.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I took 3 workshops as a kid and I love what the YAs did for me, so I want to do the same for others.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I’m going to go back to school and get my degree.

Kiara Sampson

California, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: I wanted to be a preschool teacher. I have a huge passion for kids and I’ve always wanted to be the one to make a positive impact on a kids life.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I was involved in show choir, jazz choir, theatre as a thespian, and I sang for the jazz band.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined because it combined the two things I loved most together, kids and music, there was no better option. Not to mention my father and older sisters were in the group and I look up to the a lot and aspired to be like them.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan to live my dream and become a teacher but try and perform on the side for fun.

Kristan Nesta

Pennsylvania, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2010
BEFORE YAs: I wanted to be a baker.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I participated in marching band, choir, I played soccer and volleyball and was in national honor society.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined because I wanted to give back the experience that I got from the workshops that changed my life.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: My future is still undecided but for now I want to continue touring the world doing what I love to do.

Kristen Guarino

New York, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: I planned to go to a 4-year university to study music education.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Soccer, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Choir, Dance, Student Council, Spanish Club and Varsity Club
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I wanted to join the Young Americans because when they came to my school, I had so much fun taking the workshop and I wanted to give that same joy that I got to other kids as well.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: After the Young Americans, I plan to attend a 4-year university, hopefully to study music education or go wherever the world takes me.

Mary Lehmann

Michigan

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: My plans were to audition for musical theater at colleges that were in Michigan.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Choir, band, tennis, golf, dance, voice lessons.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined YA’s because it was one of the only performance based school where everyone supports eachother. Competition wasn’t the main focus of the group.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan on moving to New York and start auditioning for shows or attend Penn State University to finish a degree in musical theater.

Michael Lunder

Minnesota

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: I wanted to be a Vet before I met the YA’s.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: A lot of jobs, track, show choir, musicals, gymnastics, and dance for a few months of my senior year.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined because they used music to make me feel better about myself during a time when I was bullied for loving music.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I don’t have any plans right now, but I would love to stay involved with music no matter what I do!

Mimi Ortega

California, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2010
BEFORE YAs: I’ve always had dreams of being on Broadway, so I went to Fullerton College to major in Theatre. I was also the fastest girl in Track at the time and would have loved to continue running.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I was in Show Choir and I ran Track.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I took a workshop at my high school while I was in college. What they introduced to me was beyond amazing. They inspired me through music, my favorite thing.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan to get a job and save money for a house. On the side I want to audition for musicals in LA and continue to write and record my music in the studio.

Ricky Hill

Michigan

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: I was planning on either going to school for a degree in Music Education or going to law school.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Football, Track and Field, Debate Team (2010 State Title), Choir, Mona Shores Allegros (Musical Theatre).
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I have always had a passion for teaching and music, and being able to affect kids around the world. The first YA show I ever saw was Boyne 2010, and I was so blown away I knew I had to audition immediately after the show.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan on going back to school (in California or Michigan) for degree in Music Education.

Riley Knight

Nebraska

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: I wanted to be a high school band director.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Band, choir, theater, speech and debate.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I wanted to help kids just like the group helped my sister.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I want to go back to college and become a high school band director.

Russell Klimas

Colorado, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: I planned on finishing my business degree.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I did student council and theater.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I wanted to get to know new people, travel and perform.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I want to own my own dance company that focuses on telling stories through movement versus words.

Sarah Goetz

Alaska, USA

Sasha Brail

Florida, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: My plans were to go to college in my hometown.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: In school I played water polo, had 800 community service hours, was in a business magnet program, chess club, and was on dance team.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined because it truly made me happy

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MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I plan on touring for awhile, and continuing to grow my love of teaching.

Sayako Niimi

Japan

Shane Eagen

California

Shanielle Trotter

California, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2010
BEFORE YAs: My plans after high school before I met the young Americans were to go to school and study to be a child psychologist.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I did choir, K.I.D.S academy, track, key club, and dance.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I wanted to join YAs because they moved and inspired me so I wanted to be apart of something so positive and motivating.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I will continue in my schooling and get my degrees in psychology.

Shantal Francis

Florida

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: After highschool, I received an Associates Degree in Psychology.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I was very involved in the music department in highschool as well as honor societies.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I love the support and inspiration I felt as a townkid and wanted to provide that for others. Also, when the YAs sang “We Wish You Love” I knew I wanted to be a part of that.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I’m not sure what I want to do after Young Americans. I might want to perform or become a psychologist!

Stewart Birley

United Kingdom

NEW KID YEAR: 2009
BEFORE YAs: I planned on going to college and studying sport science.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: In school I played soccer, was in school choir and did drama.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I joined to give back all the experiences that were given to me.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: Still deciding what my future plans are but I would love to live in America.

Tomomi Nakamura

Japan

Tory Benedict

California, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2010
BEFORE YAs: After high school I wanted to go to cosmetology school.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Show choir
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: My sister was a Young American and I saw a few Christmas shows. The Young Americans was a sense of family while still being able to perform after high school.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I want to continue traveling, so I plan on becoming a flight attendant.

Yuriko Kawabe

Japan

NEW KID YEAR: 2012
BEFORE YAs: I was supposed to go to community college in the United States.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I took ballet and dance class all through out high school.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: Because I like to work with kids and travel to other countries. Also when I took workshop of Young Americans, they inspired me so much.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I don’t know yet, but I want to do whatever happen to me.

Zach Stauffer

Nebraska, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: I wanted to college to become a journalist.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: I played golf, was in show choir, and performed in musicals.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: I wanted to give back the gift that I received.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I’m still deciding what it is I want to do but as of now I want to continue touring the world doing what I love.

Zak Harrington

Indiana, USA

NEW KID YEAR: 2011
BEFORE YAs: I wanted to find some way to keep music in my life and pursue carpentry.
HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULARS: Soccer, Choir, Show choir, Work.
WHY I JOINED THE YAs: An alumni back home told me all about it and that it was perfect for me. Also my best friend CoCo was in it.
MY PLANS AFTER YAs: I’m plan to continue to work in music and production.