The NYYS Student Ambassador Program is a paid leadership and professional development initiative that gives students meaningful opportunities to represent NYYS, build new skills, and strengthen engagement across the organization.
Building on earlier Marketing and Music Ambassador initiatives, the program now brings these efforts together under one umbrella with two distinct tracks:
Outreach & Engagement Ambassadors serve as student representatives of NYYS, helping prospective musicians and families better understand the NYYS experience.
Activities may include:
• Supporting audition days, recruitment events, fairs, and open houses
• Speaking with prospective students and families
• Participating in student engagement and community outreach activities
• Assisting with selected outreach performances
• Engaging with trustees, donors, foundation leaders, and other arts professionals
• Providing student feedback to NYYS artistic and administrative leadership
Through this work, students develop skills in leadership, public speaking, advocacy, and relationship-building.
Marketing & Communications Ambassadors gain hands-on experience in arts marketing, storytelling, and digital communications while helping NYYS share its work from an authentic student perspective.
Activities may include:
• Capturing video, photography, and audio at rehearsals and events
• Supporting social media content
• Identifying and developing student-centered stories
• Assisting with interviews and behind-the-scenes content
• Learning about branding, audience engagement, and nonprofit communications
Students gain practical experience in digital media, storytelling, marketing, and arts administration.
Ambassadors are selected through faculty nomination and student interest, followed by conversations with NYYS leadership. Selection considers participation in NYYS, leadership potential, reliability, communication skills, and interest in the selected track.
NYYS aims to include representation from across its programs, ensuring that the Ambassador cohort reflects the breadth of the organization.
Students receive a modest stipend, supported in part by funding from the Pinkerton Foundation, and meet regularly with NYYS staff for training, mentorship, and planning.
At its core, the Student Ambassador Program gives young musicians opportunities to develop skills beyond performance while making meaningful contributions to NYYS.
Ambassadors gain experience in leadership, communications, community engagement, arts administration, and advocacy, while NYYS benefits from stronger student voice, deeper connections with prospective families, and more authentic storytelling.
The program helps prepare students not only as musicians, but as communicators, advocates, and future leaders in the arts.
If you have any questions or inquiries about the Student Ambassador Program, please email Dr. Miguel Posadas at mposadas@nyys.org.
Donate today and help support our students continue their journey and become a part of our community of musicians and change the landscape of what the musical world look like today.
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