Blind Youth Audio Project 2025
For the 28th year of the Blind Youth Audio Project, we welcomed blind and visually impaired students from across the state into our studios for a series of in-person music and radio theater workshops.
During the opening session of the 2025 Blind Youth Audio Project, a group of 26 students worked with Jack Straw’s artist team of audio engineers, musicians, vocal coaches, and writers to create two flash dramas and learn about the program. After all participants introduced themselves, the group listened to past Blind Youth drama and music productions. Then, the group divided into three teams to record two flash dramas, as well as original music to accompany them.
The first group produced “Vacation Travel” in Studio 1 with engineer Ayesha Ubayatilaka, drama coach Laura Ferri, and vocal coach Meg McLynn. The second group worked on “First Date” in Studio 2 with engineer Daniel Guenther and vocal coach Iveliz Martel. The third group worked with musicians Bill Horist and Jessica Lurie and production intern Josie Stone to compose original music to accompany the two PSAs.
For the rest of the program, students broke into two groups to work with our radio theater team and music team.
Brooklyn, Eli, Jesse, and Maria created Return to Isla Del Amor, a comedy/horror story that takes place at a high school prom during the 1980s, in collaboration with Daniel, Laura, Iveliz, and production intern Asher Younger.
Adan, Eleven, and Katie combined to form the band Tres Lunas, and created the song “Sending Messages” in collaboration with Bill, Jessica, Ayesha, engineer Erin Shellman, and production intern Josie Stone.
The Blind Youth Audio Project 2025 was produced by Jack Straw Cultural Center and Arts and Visually Impaired Audiences, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind. Our production team included Jack Straw audio engineers Daniel Guenther, Erin Shellman, and Ayesha Ubayatilaka; writer and drama coach Laura Ferri; vocal coaches Meg McLynn and Iveliz Martel; musicians Bill Horist and Jessica Lurie; production interns Josie Stone and Asher Younger; photographers Sherwin Eng and Kanan Gole; web designer Levi Fuller; and Project Director Joan Rabinowitz.
The Blind Youth Audio Project was created by founding AVIA Director Jesse Minkert and Jack Straw Executive Director Joan Rabinowitz. Special thanks to Janet George and Matthew Hines with the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind.
Our programs for youth with disabilities are made possible with support from the Agostinho Rodrigues Trust, ArtsWA, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, 4Culture, and individual contributors.
Artists
Laura Ferri
Laura Ferri is a freelance performing artist whose work as an actor, playwright, and director has been seen in theaters across the country. She has worked extensively with the blind…
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Bill Horist
Seattle-based guitarist Bill Horist has played on dozens of records and has performed throughout North and Central America, Europe and Japan; collaborating with numerous leading lights in a beguiling…
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Jessica Lurie
Seattle and Brooklyn-based Jessica Lurie is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improviser, performing on saxophones, flute, voice, accordion and electronics. She calls on a wide range of…
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Iveliz Martel
Iveliz is an actor, teaching artist, and journalist from Chile. She holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Washington School of Drama and an MS in Science Journalism…
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Meg McLynn
Meg McLynn is a Seattle-based actor, vocalist, and teaching artist who loves sharing her passion for performance with students of all ages. She is a member of the vocal…
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