Recanati-Kaplan Program for Excellence in the Arts | Gilda and Henry Block School of the Arts - 92NY, New York

Is your child a talented and passionate artist, musician or dancer?

Offering full, 100% merit-based scholarships, the Recanati-Kaplan Program for Excellence in the Arts opens doors for gifted and talented students to hone and develop their creative potential as artists and performers.

Recanati-Kaplan scholars thrive.

Studying under the guidance of 92nd Street Y’s esteemed faculty in a pre-conservatory environment, your scholar will be immersed in a broad range of advanced classes and private, personalized instruction with world-class teachers and master mentors.

Students demonstrating particular excellence in their field are eligible to receive end-of-the-year awards, which can be used towards college tuition.

We teach our students to dream BIG.

At the core of the Recanati-Kaplan Program is the belief that individualized instruction and mentoring accelerates learning, supports technical accomplishment and stimulates creative potential. This is where the journey begins, putting you on a path to reach new goals, exceed expectations and fulfill their dreams of becoming a professional artist.

Now accepting applications.

Download the Brochure

Study in specialized classes weekly in a range of visual arts disciplines.
Receive portfolio preparation classes for admission to high school and college.
Benefit from personalized mentoring to support artistic development.
Participate in field trips to artists’ studios, design studios, museums, galleries and more.
Show their work at the annual student show in 92NY’s Weill Art Gallery.

Art Center R-K scholars have been accepted to:

Pre-professional programs in Art

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Frank Sinatra School of the Arts

University programs in Art

Rhode Island School of Design
The Cooper Union
Parsons The New School for Design
School of Visual Arts
La Guardia

Application deadline: Applications are open and the deadline has been extended to June 2

Art Mentor:

The Recanati-Kaplan Dance Program is for talented and hardworking students who aspire to professional careers in dance as performers, choreographers, educators, and leaders in any facet of the field of dance. The rigorous curriculum will expose students to a wide range of historical and future forward artists while providing performing opportunities in a range of venues and opportunities for creating, designing and directing work of their own.

Recanati-Kaplan Dancers:

Receive rigorous study in specialized classes weekly in a diverse range of dance styles and genres
Study with some of NYC’s most talented performing artists and teachers from companies such as The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Dorrance Dance, Passion Fruit Dance Company, MeenMoves, MorDance, Rhythm of the Sole, STOMP, Phantom of the Opera and many more!
Receive one-on-one mentorship with R-K Dance mentor
Learn and perform repertory from master choreographers and companies, such as Martha Graham, José Limón, Jerome Robbins, Alvin Ailey and Trisha Brown, as well as cutting edge choreographers from our Artist-in-Residence program.
Perform in professional settings outside of the 92NY
Have access to 92NY’s Artist-in-Residence program, Harkness Mainstage Series, in-person immersions and experiences with visiting artists in our studios throughout the year.
Experience the NYC dance scene through field trips to Lincoln Center, Guggenheim Works & Process, The Joyce Theater, BAM, NYLA and more.
Receive individualized preparation for high school, university, and summer program auditions
Mentoring choreography and dramaturgy for dance theater and dance film
Dance Teacher Training
Stage Production

Recanati-Kaplan Dance scholars have gone on to:

Professional Performing Arts Schools, including Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and Frank Sinatra School of the Arts
Summer programs and intensives including American Ballet Theater, School of American Ballet, American Academy of Ballet, Manhattan Youth Ballet and New York Theater Ballet
Top college programs in dance and biology
Specialized programs in dance, dance education, choreography, and arts administration

Recanati-Kaplin Dance Auditions:

Application deadline: Due Monday, May 19, 2025 by 12 pm
In-person audition (ages 7-11): Monday, May 19, 2025, 3:45-4:45 pm
In-person audition (ages 12-18): Monday, May 19, 2025 4:45-6 pm
Video audition: Due Monday, May 19, 2025 by 12 pm

Additional application requirements

Dance Mentor:

Have the opportunity to perform in masterclasses, attend performances, and participate in music intensives with special guest instructors as part of our collaboration with the Curtis Institute of Music.
Attend weekly private lessons and theory classes
Participate in weekly vocal and/or instrumental ensembles
Learn to use music technology, empowering them to compose, record, edit and mix their own music.
Receive guidance for applying to universities and pre-professional programs in music.

School of Music R-K scholars have been accepted to:

Pre-professional programs in music

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Professional Performing Arts High School
Frank Sinatra School of the Arts
The Julliard School
Special Music School

Higher-education programs in music

Yale University
Bowdoin College
Oberlin College
Syracuse University
SUNY Purchase
Manhattan School of Music
University of California, Los Angeles

Download additional application requirements

Application deadline: May 30, 2025
Audition dates: Jun 12 & 15, 2025. Additional dates TBD if necessary.

Music Mentor:

Kyle Landry

Dr. Kyle Landry is a dynamic and engaging contemporary saxophonist, composer, artist and music educator originally from Detroit Michigan ...

Kyle Landry

Dr. Kyle Landry is a dynamic and engaging contemporary saxophonist, composer, artist and music educator originally from Detroit Michigan.

As a performer and composer, Kyle has dedicated his career to presenting unique and engaging works of art that immerse the audience and evoke questions. This philosophy has fueled an exploration of new sounds and the invention of new and unusual musical instruments. One of Kyle’s recent works, NODE premiered at the Broad Modern Art Museum, featured an interactive mechanical-feedback instrument, which reverberates sounds through a 10-foot spring controlled by a computer, creating feedback loops and resonance.

In his work as a chamber musician, Kyle is a member of the Viridian Saxophone Quartet which has performed throughout the United States and has won numerous awards including prizes at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, North American Saxophone Alliance Chamber Music Competition, Coleman Chamber Music Competition, Plowman Chamber Music Competition and the MTNA Chamber Music Competition. Kyle’s mission as both a soloist and chamber musician is to promote the creation and dissemination of new works through performance, composition and commissioning. As part of a recent commissioning project, the Viridian Quartet premiered Four Brothers, a four movement jazz suite by Grammy Award winning jazz pianist Bill Cunliffe.

Kyle’s philosophy as an educator encourages the growth of student’s creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills while working towards the highest level of creative artistic expression. Whatever the student’s goals, Kyle works to instill in them all a love and passion for music.

Kyle holds a Doctoral degree in Music Performance and a Master of Music from Michigan State University, a Bachelor of Music Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education from Central Michigan University. If you would like to learn more about Kyle Landry’s work you can visit his website: Kyle-Landry.com

Rigorous study in specialized weekly classes in a range of Musical Theater dance styles, singing, and acting.
Performance opportunities in original works of theater.
Learn and perform classic repertory from productions such as 42nd Street, A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Hamilton, Wicked, and more.
Perform in Musical Theater Workshop productions.
Experience the NYC Theater scene through field trips to Broadway shows, masterclasses, conventions, and more.
Learn and perform repertory from master choreographers currently working on Broadway, National Tours, TV and Film.

Recanati-Kaplan Musical Theater scholars have gone on to:

Tony Award winning Broadway careers
Professional Performing Arts Schools, including Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Ivy League and top conservatory colleges
Graduate programs in dance and dance education
Perform in original works of theater, such as From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, A is for Audra, and Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz.

The Recanati-Kaplan Musical Theater Program is for talented and hardworking students who aspire to professional careers in the Musical Theater industry as performers, educators, choreographers, directors, and leading artists in the field. The rigorous curriculum will expose students to a wide range of historical and contemporary musicals while providing performance opportunities in a range of venues and opportunities for creating, designing, and directing work of their own.

Applications due June 15

Musical Theater Mentor:

Find out more about 92NY’s many scholarship programs.

Please note that all 92Y regularly scheduled in-person programs are suspended.