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Mission Statement

Our mission is to support and nurture the arts among the youth of the Saranac Lake Central School District.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to support performance and creative arts through program support as well as with scholarships for workshops, summer camps and college study in the arts.

About SLYAA

SLYAA began

with a group of determined community volunteers who worked to bring an orchestra to accompany the Saranac Lake High School music department’s major work in 1994.

With the success of that project Saranac Lake Young Arts Organization was founded in 1995, and incorporated in 1997. In 1998 SLYAA became a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit group. In 2002 the first website presence was launched.

2015 marked the 20th anniversary of SLYAA. Over the two decades forty five Trustees have worked for the youth of our community through service on the Board.

The generosity of the people in the Saranac Lake Central School district has been unwavering and makes possible all that SLYAA does. Donations are gratefully accepted and may be made with no restriction or be directed towards a specific art or program. All gifts are tax-deductible.

SLYAA supports all children, kindergarten through college age, who reside in the Saranac Lake Central School District including those who attend public, private, parochial and home schools.

Board Of Trustees

2021-2022

President: Lora Couture  Vice President: Kent Streed  Treasurer: Lora Couture  Peggy Orman, Christopher Leifheit, Valerie Patterson

Board Members Emeritus

George Cook, David Johnson, Barbara Miller, Marie Wade Cogar

SLYAA Trustees

Richard Aschettino, Tim Baker, Janis Beatty, Carol Bodah, David Bodah, Beverly Bridger, Jason Brill, Kathleen Bullard, Ruth Catton, Jean Chamberlain, Mark Coleman, George Cook, Lora Couture, Stephen DeHond, Lynne Fisher-Kemp, Chris DeHond Fransen, Kathy Ford, Dianne Furtado, Andy Flynn, Ann Gaillard, Phill Greenland, Maria Hackett, Carol Hankey, Marcy Hough, Jesse Jakobe, David Johnson, Keith Kogut, Cathy Kraft, Cheryl Kurtz, Christopher Leifheit, Susan Leubert, Beth McNally, Barbara Miller,

Peggy Orman, Anne Paulson, Valerie Patterson, Robin Schneider, Sharon Sorgule, Kent Streed, LauraJean Swanson, Bob Sweet, Beryl Szwed, Nathalie Thill, Jon Vinograd, Marie Wade Cogar 

Following are some of the performances, groups and activities we have organized, sponsored or assisted since 1995:

Vivaldi's Gloria, Mozart's Requiem, Faure's Requiem - SLHS Concert Choir

The Chamber Orchestra of Northern NY

Paul Smith's College Dinner For he Arts

Annual Winter Carnival Baroque Concerts

SLHS Art Show Awards and Reception

SLHS Phoenix Literary Awards

SLHS Community Mural

Artist Carol Vossler's Piano Sculpture

Bloomingdale School's Big Show

Annual Crane Music Camp Scholarships

Annual Timothy Begor Memorial Scholarships

Adirondack Festival Children's Chorus Scholarships

Purchase of Baby Grand Piano for SLHS Auditorium

Deborah Cole Concert and Vocal Workshops

Guest Speakers for Arts Classes

Jazz Evening with Fred Baker

Quartet Prima Vista Concert

Kantilena Children's Choir

Crane Concert Choir

St. Lawrence University Singing Saints

Annual Messiah Sing-In Holiday Concerts

Sponsored SLHS Band and Ensembles' Trip to Washington, DC

Lake Placid Sinfonietta Concert in SL

Pontier Duo Piano Concert with Sister Cities Association

Costumes for SLHS Drama Production of "The Miser"

Adirondack Piano Institute

Artists Mentor Program

Dabrowski Violin Concert

Loon Lake Live Concert

Sponsored SLHS Band to attend Sherburne Pageant of the Bands

Sponsored Men's and Wonmen's Ensembles Trip to Ottawa

Sponsored Art Club's Trips to NYC and California

Sponsored Skidmore College Dynamics Concert

Tri-Cities Opera Company performances

Assisted with the All Star Big Band Tribute to Fred Baker

1st Annual Arts Recognition Reception

AND MORE...

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