2013-J242

Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Young Audiences of Western New York

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2013-J242


LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Young Audi-
ences of Western New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to call attention to
organizations which devote their time and energies to the cultural
enrichment of the Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 50th Anniversary of Young Audiences of Western New York; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Young Audiences of Western New York will host
its second annual "Young Audiences Goes To Town" gala on Wednesday,
October 10, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Young Audiences of Western New York's mission is to make the
arts a part of young people's lives in order to enhance their develop-
ment as creative and productive human beings; it offers assembly, work-
shop and long term residency programs with professional artists, commit-
ted to their craft, and using it as a tool for creative learning; and
WHEREAS, Art forms include music, multi-media arts, theater, dance,
and visual and literary arts; it provides services in the eight counties
of Western New York, including Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie,
Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming; and
WHEREAS, In 1962, the local affiliate of Young Audiences was founded
by Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra musician Laurence Trott, along with
several philanthropically and educationally minded individuals, includ-
ing Aline Gunzberg and Helen Yasgur; the parent organization, Young
Audiences, Inc., had also been revived by a musician and his benefac-
tors; and
WHEREAS, Yehudi Menuhin, the violinist and conductor, had come up with
the idea in 1950; with the help of supporters, by the mid-1950s, there
were affiliates in New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston;
today, there are 30 Young Audiences affiliates across the country; and
WHEREAS, Young Audiences initially focused on bringing classical musi-
cians and performances to schoolchildren in urban districts; in its
first year, Young Audiences of Western New York provided 500 programs to
over 75,000 children; by 1982, 20 years into its existence, Young Audi-
ences of Western New York diversified its offerings to include all of
the art forms, and offered workshops, residencies and assembly programs;
and
WHEREAS, Today, Young Audiences of Western New York presents hundreds
of individual programs, plus dozens of residencies, wherein teaching
artists provide schoolchildren, their educators and families, with
multi-disciplinary, multi-session education through the arts; these
residencies create meaningful connections between artists and young
people that might otherwise not be exposed to the arts specially arts
integrated into school curricula; and
WHEREAS, The artists on the Young Audiences of Western New York's
roster are committed to their art, and using it as a tool for learning;
art forms include many genres of music, multi-media arts, theater,
dance, and visual and literary arts; and
WHEREAS, Reaching over seven million school children every year, the
Young Audiences network received the National Medal of Arts in 1994; in
2002, the organization was the recipient of the National Conference for
Community and Justice Brother/Sisterhood Award in the Arts and the
Commitment to Education Award from the Buffalo Alliance for Education;
and
WHEREAS, While the mission of Young Audiences of Western New York
teaches young people not only to see and appreciate art, but to also

participate and understand the arts in context of the world in general,
and their lives specifically; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Young Audiences of Western New York;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Cynnie Gaasch, Executive Director, Young Audiences of Western
New York.

actions

  • 18 / Jan / 2013
    • REFERRED TO FINANCE
  • 24 / Jan / 2013
    • REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION
  • 24 / Jan / 2013
    • ADOPTED

Resolution Details

Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative

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