David A. Dik Named New National Executive Director of Young Audiences Arts for Learning

NEW YORK, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Young Audiences Arts for Learning (YA), the nation’s leading arts in education organization for children and youth, announced today that Managing Director of the Metropolitan Opera Guild, David A. Dik has joined YA as the new national executive director.  In doing so, he will leverage 26 years of music education and leadership experience into organizing new program initiatives, developing national partnerships and spearheading Young Audiences’ vision of engaging youth in quality arts learning experiences.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100520/NY08210 )

“With David’s leadership skills, I believe Young Audiences is poised to address the big issues in education by focusing on the unique role arts learning can play,” said Corinne Greenberg, Young Audiences Chairman. “David brings an artist’s creativity and an educator’s commitment to students in his leadership role with the organization.”

David is a member of the National Arts Education Partnership (AEP) and is widely recognized for his innovation in musical education. David has worked on overseeing operations at the Metropolitan Opera Guild including education, public programs and information technology while serving as director of the Music-in-Education National Consortium and publisher of Opera News magazine. David will assume his new position at a time when the future direction of education in the U.S. is being reviewed and debated as part of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

“At a time when the education of our nation’s children and youth is of paramount concern, David brings the vision, integrity and experience Young Audiences needs to advance its mission of enhancing the creativity and learning of all young people,” said Bill Pearson, Young Audiences President.

The Young Audiences network envisions a future in which it continues to work to realign and forge collaborative partnerships with schools and communities throughout the country in order to build and sustain comprehensive arts experiences steeped in quality and authenticity. With the selection of David A. Dik, Young Audiences seeks to advance arts learning as a powerful means of enhancing the creativity and learning of every child.

“I decided to come to Young Audiences because I believe that the Young Audiences Arts for Learning network can make a genuine and lasting difference in students’ lives,” said Dik.  “I look forward to taking on the role of ensuring that Young Audiences continues to work to inspire children, schools and communities around the nation through education.”

David A. Dik earned his Master of Music from the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and a Bachelor of Music from the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam.

About Young Audiences Arts for Learning

Young Audiences Arts for Learning reaches more than 7 million students each year in 7,000 schools with over 89,000 performance demonstrations and workshops in dance, music, theater and the visual arts. The purpose of the national Young Audiences organization is to help the broad network of Young Audiences affiliates play a decisive role in all young people’s education and development.  Arts for Learning envisions a future in which the nation’s children and youth will have the opportunity to engage in quality arts learning experiences that nurture creativity, build cultural understanding and enhance the development of their learning and life skills. For more information, visit www.youngaudiences.org.  

SOURCE Young Audiences Arts for Learning