Young Musicians & Artists

What Young Musicians & Artists does

Young Musicians & Artists (YMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit residential summer arts camp headquartered in Portland, Oregon (administrative office at 220 NW 8th Ave, mailing PO Box 80338), founded circa 1965 and continuously operating for approximately 60 years. Since 1974 YMA has been housed at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, 45 miles south of Portland, where it delivers two 2-week residential sessions (First Session: June 21-July 3; Second Session: July 5-July 17) with a capacity of 160 students per session and an 8:1 student-to-instructor ratio. Programming spans 14+ disciplines organized by session: First Session covers Orchestra, Band, Choir, Jazz, Piano, and Guitar; Second Session covers Theatre, Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre, Dance, Visual Arts, Songwriting, Creative Writing, and Digital Photography, plus add-on modules such as a Concerto & Aria Competition, an integrated Leadership Training Program (Counselors-in-Training for students post-9th grade), and daily electives. The intended customer base is youth in grades 4-12 and their families, with the secondary audience being a long-tenured alumni community many of whom return as counselors and faculty.

The operating technology stack is lightweight and consumer-grade: a Squarespace-hosted public website (ymaarts.org) with Google Translate multilingual support across seven languages, CampBrain for registration and donation processing, a Shopify store for merchandise, Bandcamp and YouTube for media hosting, Kinderpics for the photography program's gallery, and Google Forms for surveys such as the T-Shirt Design Contest vote. Corporate giving flows through Benevity, Fidelity Charitable, and AOL Giving. There is no proprietary technology, mobile app, API, or AI/ML capability; the only AI-adjacent integration is the third-party translation widget. The platform is essentially a marketing and admissions layer over a physical residential experience, not a software business.

YMA's revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit mix. Primary revenue is tuition: 2026 full-session tuition is $2,675 per camper with a $400 registration deposit, an additional $75 materials fee for Visual Arts and Photography, a 3% credit card processing surcharge (waived for debit/prepaid), and a $200 sibling discount per additional camper. Secondary revenue is donations and sponsorships, including full, half, and partial scholarships funded through individual gifts, corporate giving platforms, and the Oregon Cultural Trust matching program. YMA awards $100,000+ in need-based financial aid annually (three award cycles per year), and Oregon Cultural Trust donations receive a 100% Oregon tax credit up to $500/$1,000/$2,500 for individuals/couples/corporations. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (President: Claire Stolowitz) and led by Executive Director Kate Andries and Camp Director Galen Cohen.

Name

Young Musicians & Artists

Legal name

Young Musicians and Artists

Website

https://ymaarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Young Musicians & Artists (YMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit residential summer arts camp headquartered in Portland, Oregon, that delivers two 2-week sessions at Willamette University in Salem for grades 4-12 across 14+ music, performing, and visual arts disciplines, funded by tuition and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Arts & Design Camps (Visual Arts, Crafts, Design Thinking) (EDAMALAH)

Keywords

• Youth arts education
• Summer music camp
• Residential arts programs
• Performing arts instruction
• Visual arts workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees. 2026 tuition is $2,675 per session with $400 deposit required at registration. Additional fees apply for Visual Arts and Photography programs ($75 materials fee). Credit card payments incur 3% processing fee.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: 501(c)(3) not-for-profit receives donations including full scholarships, half scholarships, and partial scholarships. All gifts (unless specified) provide need-based financial aid. Federal tax ID: 93-0910160.
3. Sibling Discount Revenue Adjustment: Sibling discount of $200 per additional camper reduces net revenue. Additional campers receive discount on tuition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Young Musicians & Artists (YMA) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) residential summer camp that delivers intensive, hands-on instruction in music, performing arts, and visual arts to youth. The camp operates two two-week sessions at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon: a music-focused First Session and a performing/visual arts Second Session. Programming is delivered through 14+ disciplines and is paired with a built-in leadership training track for older students.

Product overview

Young Musicians & Artists (YMA) is a premier residential summer arts camp offering two two-week sessions at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. The program operates as a unified camp with multiple specialized arts disciplines structured across two sessions. First Session (June 21 – July 3) focuses on music with Orchestra, Band, Choir, Jazz, Piano, and Guitar programs. Second Session (July 5 – July 17) expands to performing and visual arts including Theatre, Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre, Dance, Visual Arts, Songwriting, Creative Writing, and Digital Photography. The camp integrates a Leadership Training Program for teenage participants, a Concerto & Aria Competition for First Session musicians, and daily elective offerings. All programs include room and board, meals, supervised activities, and performances culminating in Final Performance showcases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• First Session Music Programs Two-week residential camp session focused on music instruction for youth grades 4-12, including Orchestra, Band, Choir, Jazz (ensemble and workshop), Piano, and Guitar programs. Each program includes ensemble rehearsal, sectionals, chamber music, private or small-group lessons, and culminating performances. Designed for musicians from intermediate to advanced levels.
• Second Session Performing and Visual Arts Programs Two-week residential camp session expanding into performing and visual arts for youth grades 4-12. Programs include Theatre, Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre and Stagecraft, Dance (modern and African), Visual Arts (drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, printmaking), Songwriting, Creative Writing, and Digital Photography. Each program culminates in a Final Performance, gallery exhibition, or showcase.
• Leadership Training Program (Counselors-in-Training) Built-in leadership development track for students who have completed 9th grade. Participants are automatically designated as Counselors-in-Training (CITs) and receive mentorship, evaluation, and a structured pathway to counselor roles. Former CITs staff the camp, forming a continuous leadership pipeline.
• Concerto & Aria Competition Solo performance competition open to all First Session students. Applicants submit recordings and may be selected to perform as featured soloists with YMA's Spotlight Orchestra, accompanied by faculty, counselors, and advanced students. Open to any instrument taught at YMA.
• Daily Elective Classes Daily 45-minute elective blocks complementing the primary program. Offerings include stage band, vocal jazz ensemble, yoga, technical theatre, reed-making, soccer, ultimate frisbee, improvisational theatre, African hand drumming, and mask-making, among others.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students receive over $100,000 in need-based financial aid annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Oregon Cultural TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOregon Cultural Trust offers a 100% tax credit for donations up to $500 for individuals, $1,000 for couples, and $2,500 for corporations. Donors can double their impact by making a matching gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust by December 31st.
• Willamette UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMA has been housed at Willamette University since 1974. The university provides campus facilities including dormitories, classrooms, and performance spaces. Located 45 miles south of Portland, Willamette is the oldest liberal arts college in the West.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boston University Tanglewood Institute: Intensive residential summer music program for high school musicians held on a college campus (Boston University/Tanglewood). Comparable residential college-campus delivery for advanced youth musicians with college-level faculty.
• Interlochen Center for the Arts: Premier residential summer arts program for youth, offering music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and creative writing across multiple summer sessions on a dedicated campus in Michigan. Closest direct competitor in scope, multi-discipline format, and residential delivery model.
• Heifetz International Music Institute: Residential summer music training program for advanced classical musicians on a college campus (Mary Baldwin University). Comparable model of intensive, faculty-led classical and chamber-music training for serious student musicians.
• Camp Encore/Coda: Residential summer music and arts camp in Maine offering orchestral, jazz, rock, and visual arts programs for middle and high school students. Comparable residential format and broad multi-genre music focus.
• Kinhaven Music School: Residential summer music program in Vermont for intermediate-to-advanced instrumental students in a small, faculty-led setting. Comparable residential small-cohort model with strong emphasis on chamber music and collegial atmosphere.
• Berklee Five-Week Summer Performance Program: Residential summer music intensive for teens covering instrumental, vocal, and contemporary styles at Berklee College. Closest fit for YMA's First Session ensemble/jazz offerings with similar age group and skill-development focus.
• Round Top Festival Institute: Intensive residential summer chamber-music program for advanced high school and college musicians in Texas. Comparable residential, faculty-led, intensive-format delivery for serious student musicians.
• New England Music Camp: Long-running residential summer music camp for grades 4-12 covering orchestra, band, jazz, choir, and private lessons on a Maine lakeside campus. Directly comparable in target age band, music-discipline breadth, and six-decade-plus operating history.
• Idyllwild Arts Summer Program: Residential summer arts program in California offering music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and creative writing for grades K-12, hosted on a college campus. Directly comparable multi-discipline arts summer camp with similar target market and tuition structure.
• Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts: Long-established (since 1968) summer arts day camp on Long Island offering music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and creative writing for grades K-12. Highly comparable in multi-discipline structure and youth-arts mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Young Musicians & Artists