The annual concert tour is an important part of the AYS experience for all our students. It is no more "optional" than, for example, playing in the state championship finals would be for all players on a sports team. Occasionally, parents and students are surprised to hear this, especially when they face the "sticker shock" (and time commitment) of fully participating in AYS throughout the year. However, this is the reality for a high achieving musical group that must pull together and work together as a single organization from beginning to end.
Both the AYS Program Board and AYS Parents Association Board work diligently to ensure that classical music, in general -- and AYS, in particular -- is not a pursuit reserved solely for a few privileged families and students. This commitment to provide musical and cultural opportunities for all students recognizes that talent and potential are not granted according to a student's social or economic standing.
Even so, it is still the responsibility of every family to determine how important AYS is for the student, decide what its financial priorities are, assess its own family resources, and commit fully to AYS if AYS is truly a top priority. This means:
1. Every family must pay regularly, within its capabilities, toward the cost of the tour -- every month.
2. Requests for financial assistance are strictly confidential. Only the AYSPA co-presidents will know the circumstances underlying a request.
3. There are no automatic scholarships or "merit" scholarships. You must make a request; it is not enough to simply choose to not make payments, assuming AYSPA will cover all tour costs. An AYS program scholarship does not guarantee assistance for the tour.
4. You will be expected to actively support our efforts to build the scholarship fund. The Board has already put considerable time and effort into several initiatives, but we will need your help (translate: work) to make those efforts successful.
5. Nothing is impossible with a positive, cooperative attitude and your commitment to hard work.
(There is still more important information to come, including a worksheet for requesting financial assistance, but it is under revision and will be posted soon. Please check back later tonight.)