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...
