Poly Arts for Youth (PAFY) 2026/27 Season
Alphabet Rockers
Grades 4 - 8 | 50-60 Min. | In-School Workshop
GRAMMY Award and Emmy Award-winning Alphabet Rockers bring their signature blend of hip-hop, storytelling, and community-building to the Central Coast.
Grade Recommendation: 4 - 8
# of Artist Visits Available: 2
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Time: anytime during the school hours
Genre: Music, Hip-Hop, Songwriting
Duration: 50 - 60 minutes
Max Participants: up to 30 students
Other Needs (production needs, if any): Projector, Screen, Sound, White Board, Dry-Erase Markers, Paper, Writing Utensils
CelloGayageum
Grades K - 12 | 60 Min. | In-School Performance
CelloGayageum is a musical journey across continents, cultures, and centuries. Founded by Austrian cellist Sol Daniel Kim and Korean gayageum virtuoso Dayoung Yoon, CelloGayageum bridges the soulful depth of Western classical music with the mesmerizing elegance of Korean gug-ak (traditional music).
Grade Recommendation: K - 12
# of Artist Visits Available: 2
Date: Monday, October 26, 2026 OR Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Time: anytime during the school hours
Genre: Music, Cello and Korean Gayageum
Duration: 60 minutes
Max Participants: TBD - based on the size of the host school’s performance space
Other Needs (production needs, if any): speaking microphone and an amplifier
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Hamlet
Grades 5 - 12 | 60 Min. | In-School Performance
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is one of the nation’s premier repertory theater companies, presenting world-class productions of Shakespeare, classic works, and contemporary plays that inspire, entertain, and engage audiences of all ages.
Grade Recommendation: 5 - 12
# of Artist Visits Available: 2
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Time: anytime during the school day
Genre: Theater, Shakespeare
Duration: 60 minutes
Max Participants: up to 500
Study Guide Available: Yes
Other Needs (production needs, if any): N/A.
Las Migas
Grades K - 12 | 60 Min. | In-School Performance
Winner of the Latin Grammy for Best Flamenco Album in 2022 and 2025, Las Migas is one of the most internationally acclaimed Spanish bands today. This all-female pop quartet combines the rhythms of flamenco with influences from Spain, Cuba, and Mexico, to create a unique cultural fusion heard ‘round the world.
Grade Recommendation: K - 12
# of Artist Visits Available: 1
Date: Monday, November 16, 2026
Time: 11:00AM - 12:00PM (Noon)
Genre: Music, Flamenco
Duration: 60 minutes
Max Participants: Up to 150 - flexible based on the size of the host school’s performance space
Other Needs (production needs, if any): PA/Sound System with a few microphones and monitors, plus chairs or stools for the musicians
Lightwire Theater
Grades 1 - 6 | 45-60 Min. | In-School Workshop
Lightwire combines theater, dance and technology to bring stories to life in complete darkness and are internationally recognized for their signature brand of electroluminescent artistry.
Grade Recommendation: 1 - 6
# of Artist Visits Available: 3
Date: Monday, February 22, 2027
Time: anytime during the school hours
Genre: Theater, Dance, Technology
Duration: 60 minutes
Max Participants: up to 30 students per workshop
Other Needs (production needs, if any): Need a space that can get relatively dark to see LED lights, need tall ceilings to accommodate tall puppets, need a sound system from which the artist can play music
Delirium Musicum
Grades K - 12 | 60 Min. | In-School Performance
This self-conducted chamber orchestra composed of young musicians from Los Angeles representing 10 countries on 4 continents, is the next wave of classical musicians. It’s classical music for the new millennium!
Grade Recommendation: K - 12
# of Artist Visits Available: 1
Date: Monday, April 5, 2027
Time: Morning
Genre: Music, Classical Chamber Orchestra
Duration: 60 minutes
Max Participants: TBD - based on the size of the host school’s performance space
Other Needs (production needs, if any): speaking microphone and an amplifier
Kattam and his Tam-Tams
Grades 5 - 6 | 50 Min. | In-School Workshop
“Your Passport to the Cultures of the World” invites students on a vibrant musical journey with percussionist Kattam - introducing rhythms from Africa, the Middle East, and India. Students explore drumming techniques on the djembe, engage in fun rhythm activities using everyday objects, and perform along with music tracks—experiencing the excitement of playing in a band!
Cirque Kalabanté
Grades K-12 | 45 Min. | In-School Performance
Kalabanté Productions, founded by Guinean artist Yamoussa Bangoura, brings African culture to life through breathtaking circus arts. Their in-school show, Afrique en Cirque, features high-energy acrobatics, live Afro-Jazz, percussion, and the kora, all inspired by daily life in Guinea. The performance celebrates West African youth, resilience, and creativity in a vibrant, unforgettable experience.
The String Queens
Grades 6-12 | 45 Min. | In-School Performance
The String Queens (TSQ) is a dynamic Washington, D.C.-based trio known for their soulful sound, diverse repertoire, and engaging educational concerts. Blending storytelling, sing-alongs, improvisation, and social-emotional learning, TSQ creates powerful musical experiences that inspire audiences to love, hope, feel, and imagine. The performance ends with a Q&A to deepen the connection between artists and students.
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklórico del Rio Grande
Grades K-5 | 45 Min. | In-School Performance
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande deliver a vibrant in-school performance celebrating the music and dance of Mexico. Featuring five mariachi musicians and two folklorico dancers, the show captures the spirit and richness of Mexican culture through a lively, traditional performance that both educates and inspires.
Pablo Sainz-Villegas
Grades 6-12 | 45 Min. | In-School Performance
Pablo Sainz-Villegas, a world-renowned Spanish classical guitarist and modern heir to Andrés Segovia, has performed at top venues like Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonic. Known for his “irresistible exuberance,” Pablo brings the expressive, multicultural soul of the guitar to life. In this school program, he shares musical stories, gives a short performance, and engages students in a Q&A. Teachers are encouraged to explore his career and videos with students beforehand to prepare thoughtful questions.
Story Pirates
Grades K-5 | 45 Min. | In-School Performance
Story Pirates is an award-winning media company known for hilarious, kid-inspired entertainment, including their hit podcast with over 85 million downloads. Their in-school program, Story Creation Zone, is a fully improvised assembly where performers collaborate with students to create and act out an original story on the spot—sparking laughter, creativity, and a love for writing.
Jake Shimabukuro
Grades K-12 | 60 Min. | In-School Performance
Jake Shimabukuro represents a rare combination of artistic renegade and musical ambassador. His passion for the ukulele is as equally evident when he stretches the instrument’s technical boundaries as when he teaches basic chords to a roomful. Shimabukuro’s captivating passion will inspire students at this in-school performance to learn more about — and maybe even pick up — the ukulele.