Youth helping youth with and through music is the foundation for creating this innovative national model that provides therapeutic life opportunities and experiences to youth. While there are similar programs nationwide, VYH’s series is unique in that it provides positive youth development run by an accomplished young musician.

Kayla Avitable, a 15-year-old singer/songwriter and Lehigh Valley Music Award nominee for Best New Artist in 2014, returns this year to lead four singer/songwriter performances in this Martin Guitar Foundation funded series.

2015 performers are as follows:

• Kayla Avitable, Alternative
• Ian Holmes, American Idol Season 4 contestant, R&B/Gospel
• James Supra, Blues
• Chill Moody, 2014 Ebony Magazine Best New Rising Hip Hop Artist, Hip Hop & Rap

In addition to articles about Ms. Avitable and the Performance Series in national publications (Youth Today and the Juvenile Justice Exchange), the program was also presented at the Runaway and Homeless Youth Conference in Phoenix, AZ in 2014.