FutureStar Studios began in 2010 with a simple but powerful vision: to provide young performers with real access to professional-level arts training with affordable tuition. What started next to the Empire State Building soon sparked a movement—empowering students to grow in confidence, creativity, and skill while opening doors to careers in television, film, Broadway, and beyond.

Fueled by its early success, FutureStar Studios became the catalyst for the launch of The New York Performing Arts Academy in 2015, a natural next step in expanding high-impact arts education to students from all walks of life.

In 2023, this vision deepened with the creation of The MusicSquared Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to making the arts accessible, equitable, and transformative. Today, both FutureStar Studios and The NYPAA operate as programs under the Foundation’s banner—uniting world-class training with a mission of social impact.

FutureStar alumni include breakout stars such as Hudson Yang (Fresh Off the Boat), Jordan Vergara (On Your Feet on Broadway), and Adiel Torres (Latin singer and actor), along with many others who continue to shape the arts with purpose and passion.

While much has changed, our values remain the same: humanistic storytelling, innovation, social responsibility, and global diversity. As part of a United Nations ECOSOC-affiliated institution, we’re proud to carry this legacy forward—one student at a time.