About Us
The BYU Young Ambassadors
Young Ambassadors are selected through an extensive audition process. The Young Ambassador team consists of 20 singer/dancers and an 8-person technical crew. Throughout the school year, the Young Ambassadors offer local and regional performances, workshops with middle school and high school students, service projects and outreach performances.
The Young Ambassadors combine contemporary music and dance for a fast-paced showcase of American musical theatre. These talented performers offer a fresh view of America’s culture and ways of life.
Road to Expo '70 : The Founding of the Young Ambassadors
The World’s Fair Committee asked the United States to provide a performing group that could represent America at . With no available funding, the invitation was declined. However, Jimmie Fukusaki, the Department of Defense Entertainment Coordinator for the Pacific Command, got the idea to invite two performing groups on a regular USO military tour and schedule a delay en route to perform at Expo ‘70. BYU was contacted to provide the two groups.
One group would be the Sounds Of Freedom, a patriotic choir who had previously performed for America on the Ed Sullivan Show. The other group would be a variety show put together by founder Janie Thompson, the creative director behind the BYU troupes that toured overseas with the Department of Defense during the 1960s. Since her newest show would be representing the youth of America, Fukusaki named the group the Young Ambassadors...and a BYU legacy was born! Read more about the Young Ambassadors’ backstory here:
