Youth Performing Arts School

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The Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) is a performing arts school in Louisville, Kentucky that concentrates on various music, theatre and dance disciplines for high school students. Students who attend have a two-hour block for the arts, with the balance of their classes at duPont Manual High School. YPAS students are selected through an audition process. The Youth Performing Arts School is one of only 100 U.S. schools of this type.

Among other things, YPAS is known for its outstanding orchestra, the Philharmonia. Under the direction of former Orchestral Director Lyndon Lawless (1996-2006) the YPAS Philharmonia gave performances at Carnegie Hall in New York, was featured on National Public Radio's "From the Top" and performed in various venues throughout the United States. The Philharmonia is an all-string orchestra composed of roughly 30 of the region's finest string players, many of whom go on to attend professional music conservatories or music-based colleges such as Juilliard.

Perhaps the most widley viewed YPAS performance took place at President George W. Bush's first term Inauguration, when the YPAS chorus sang America the Beautiful.

Though often overlooked, YPAS is also home to minor performing groups for non-majors who attend duPont Manual High School while taking a class at YPAS as an elective.