Arts organizations

Advanced Acting Academy
Palo Alto. Advanced level scene study, technique workshops and productions for students ages 13-19. Four-week summer conservatory, ongoing workshops and classes during the school year held at Jordan Middle School and Palo Alto High School; cost $750 per student. Sponsored by BootStrap Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing opportunities for theater artists of all ages, and in conjunction with TheatreWorks.
E-mail: jkforte@advancedacting.org.

California Youth Symphony
441 California Ave. #5, Palo Alto. Founded in 1952, the Palo Alto-based youth orchestra performs at Spangenberg Theatre in Palo Alto, Foothill College, Flint Center and San Mateo Performing Arts Center. Many local participants are among 500 students enrolled in nine ensembles. Directed by composer-conductor Leo Eylar. Open to kids ages 7-18. Auditions in April. Director: James Hogan.
E-mail: californiayouthsymphony@gmail.com. Call 650-325-6666.

Cantabile Youth Singers
953 Industrial Ave., Ste. 122, Palo Alto. A member of the Cantabile Choral Guild, operating four choir levels serving children ages 7-18 since 1994. Activities include quarterly training workshops, weekend retreats, including: vocal training, diction and language coaching, movement and dance, training in theory, music reading skills, interpretation and history. Winter and Spring concerts are performed throughout the community. Director: Elena Sharkova.
E-mail: info@cantabile.org. Call 650-424-1410; fax 650-424-1430.

Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center
230 San Antonio Circle, Mtn. View. Founded in 1968, CSMA is a nonprofit arts education center dedicated to providing Arts for All. Offers year-round programs for all agesÊand levels, including lessons, classes, camps in music, visual arts and new media, arts-in-the-schools programs; and concerts, lectures, exhibits and community outreach events. Early childhood education program for ages 18 months and older. Multilingual faculty of more than 100 professional musicians, artists and educators. Financial aid offered. Director: Executive Director Jeffry Walker.
E-mail: info@arts4all.org. Call 650-917-6800; fax 650-917-6803.

El Camino Youth Symphony Association
4055 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. The award-winning ECYS sponsors nine ongoing ensembles that rehearse weekly and perform regularly. They include the Senior Symphony, the Sinfonietta Orchestra, four preparatory orchestras, two flute ensembles and a wind orchestra. Membership is by audition for musicians ages 6-18, and auditions are held each spring and fall. Apply online for an audition appointment. Performances are at Cubberley Community Theatre and Spangenberg Theatre in Palo Alto, and Flint Center in Cupertino. Director: Camilla Kolchinsky.
E-mail: ecys@earthlink.net. Call 650-213-7111; fax 650-493-1525.

Music for Children
Meets at First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, 1985 Louis Road.
E-mail: music4children@mindspring.com. Call 888-413-6683.

Music Within Us, The
P.O. Box 1520, Palo Alto. A developmental program that includes individual instruction, performance opportunities, concert tours and master classes in violin for children of all ages,beginning as early as age 2 1/2 and continuing through high school. Director: Founder and Executive Director Lisa S. Chu, M.D..
E-mail: info@themusicwithinus.com. Call 650-325-2194.

New Mozart School of Music
305 N. California Ave., Palo Alto. New Mozart School of Music provides private and group music instructions to students of all ages and abilities.Ê Instruction offered on piano, violin, viola, cello, voice, guitar, flute, saxophone, clarinet and electric bass. 25 international faculty and 350 enrolled students. Director: Christine Shin.
E-mail: info@newmozartschool.com. Call 650-324-2373; fax 650-989-4197.

Pacific Art League
668 Ramona St., Palo Alto . Art classes for children, teens and adults. Galleries with monthly exhibitions of professional and students' work. Summer Kids Camp offers artistic programs from arts to cartooning. Director: Stephanie Demos.
E-mail: frontdesk@pacificartleague.org. Call 650-321-3891.

Palo Alto Art Center
1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto. Offers year-round art classes citywide and workshops for children ages preschool and up. Cultural Kaleidoscope presents an artist-in-the-schools program of arts workshops, classes and special arts programs. Project LOOK! offers a docent-led tour of current exhibitions with a hands-on activity that follows in the Project LOOK! studio. Available for groups of students K-12. Director: Linda Craighead.
E-mail: ArtCenter@cityofpaloalto.org. Call 650-329-2366.

Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra
4000 Middlefield Road, #M1, Palo Alto. Award-winning youth orchestra has been performing locally for more than 40 years. One of the few youth groups in the nation devoted exclusively to chamber music. The season runs from September-June and features world-renowned soloists and popular lecture series, plus an annual Bach festival held in March at Valley Presbyterian in Portola Valley. Director: Benjamin Simon.
E-mail: info@pacomusic.org. Call 650-856-3848; fax 650-856-3847.

Palo Alto Children's Theatre
1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. The oldestÊ theater by and for children in the United States offers innovative classes, exciting performances, backstage and onstage opportunities for participants from age 4 to 22.ÊPalo Alto ChildrenÕs Theatre offers programming year-round, including summer camps. Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults.
E-mail: childrens.theatre@cityofpaloalto.org. Call 650-463-4930. For tickets: 650-463-4970, Tue-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; fax 650-324-0191.

Peninsula Youth Theatre
2500 Old Middlefield Way, Mtn. View. Peninsula Youth Theatre, a home company of the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, is a nonprofit children's theater for actors ages 7-18. It also operates a school of performing arts for children ages 3 1/2-18. Director: Karen Simpson.
E-mail: info@pytnet.org. Call 650-988-8798; fax 650-988-0823.

Ragazzi Boys Chorus
20 N. San Mateo Drive, Ste. 9, San Mateo. One of the largest boys' choruses in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ragazzi holds auditions in January, May and September and provides musical training to boys who love to sing. Concerts are mostly on the Peninsula.
E-mail: Ragazzi@Ragazzi.org. Call 650-342-8785; fax 650-342-8731.

Raices de Mexico
Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Offers classes in Mexican folklore dance to children and teens at the Cubberley Community Center.ÊAllÊlevels.ÊCall or e-mail for location, days and hours. Director: Maria Elena Varela.
E-mail: raicesdemexico@hotmail.com. Call 650-322-1501; fax 650-329-9043.