Located in eastern Tucson at the foot of the Rincon Mountains, the non-profit ASA supports lifelong engagement with learning, creativity and public service for adults in (un-) retirement.
The non-profit ASA exists to support lifelong engagement with extended learning, creativity and public service for adults in or near retirement. We are located in the Academy Village/Altura active adult community in the Rincon Valley of eastern Tucson. Founded by a former UA president, our affiliation with the University of Arizona downtown helps the ASA provide a rich year-round menu of public concerts and lectures. Each week we enjoy a range of talented artists, experts and scholars, including faculty guests sharing encores and previews of headline events. This has made ASA an audience magnet for much of eastern Tucson and beyond.
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
ASA CONCERT UPDATE:
We proudly present a new VIDEO CONCERTS page with descriptions and links to all ASA-sponsored video-concerts! These concerts have been recorded by local Tucson musicians from the safety of their sheltering-in-place locations in lieu of live performances while the ASA auditorium remains closed. All video concerts will remain available to view at your convenience unless otherwise indicated on the page.
Tuesday July 14 – Live-Streamed Premiere launches 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The ASA, in partnership with the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA), presents a solo piano recital by Alexander Tentser, performing sonatas by Mozart and Schubert. The video-concert will be live-streamed on Tuesday July 14 at 11:30 a.m. as a You Tube Premiere, where the virtual audience can comment and chat with Alex during the concert. Once the Premiere has ended, the concert will continue to be available for additional viewing.
Click link to view concert: https://youtu.be/NG0PW9Nzlgo
ASA CONCERT UPDATE:
“Tucson Guitar Quartet Concert” – posted 6/24/20
The Tucson Guitar Quartet – University of Arizona faculty artist Jose Luis Puerta and fellow classical guitarist colleagues Michael Nigro, George Ramirez and Alfredo Vasquez – have created a “mash-up” video of sequestered and pre-Covid-19 solos, duets and quartets, featuring selections from their new CD “Latin American Soundscapes.” To see full program, click “show more” under the You Tube video image.
Click link to view concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s_AutqUC5U&feature=youtu.be
To access all available concerts, click VIDEO CONCERTS.
ASA LECTURE UPDATE:
New Lectures from the Arizona Senior Academy
To our Members and Friends:
In keeping with community efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the Arizona Senior Academy suspended all live lectures, concerts, and classes in mid-March. After a strong effort by a number of Academy members and the cooperation of our speakers, we have re-opened on a “virtual” basis with lectures delivered via Zoom Webinars.
As in the past, our programs will be free and open to the public, but for the present through the internet, with previews posted on this website (Event Schedule). For any program you wish to access, please email info@arizonasenioracademy.org giving your name, email address, and the title and date of the program in which you are interested. A link to the lecture will be sent to you approximately 24 hours prior to the event. (Directions for using Zoom can be obtained by accessing the Zoom website and/or found on YouTube. A Zoom account is NOT required to watch Zoom Webinars.)
“Good Reasons for Bad Feelings”
Randolf Nesse,
Research Professor, Arizona State University
2:30 – 3:30 p.m., a live Zoom Webinar
Trying to explain why some people are especially prone to experience anxiety, depression and other bad feelings, psychologists tend to blame previous trauma or faulty thinking; psychiatrists tend to blame brain abnormalities. Evolutionary psychiatry, a field in which Randolph Nesse is a pioneer, asks a different question. Why did natural selection leave us all so vulnerable to so many diseases and so much emotional suffering? This presentation will be on the topic of his 2019 book. “Good Reasons for Bad Feelings: Insights from the Frontier of Evolutionary Psychiatry” Read More
Thank you for you for your continued support during this time of uncertainty. We look forward to seeing you soon.
ATTEND AN EVENT
The non-profit Arizona Senior Academy (ASA) is the cultural hub of the Academy Village/Altura retirement community for active adults in eastern Tucson and we have a public service mission to enhance lifelong learning and creativity. Located at the foot of the beautiful Rincon range in eastern Tucson, we are on the southern side of Saguaro National Park East, not far from Vail, AZ. (See map)
To attend an event: Public concerts and lectures at the ASA are free of charge. But if you wish to assure seating, you should arrive somewhat early.
Postal Address: 13715 E. Langtry Lane, Tucson, AZ 85747
CONTRIBUTE TO ASA
The ASA is supported solely by membership dues from Villager residents and tax deductible donations from fans, families and friends. All contributions welcome with thanks!
Testimonials
I’ve given talks in venues across the country, and I always look forward to returning to Academy Village. The setting is superb and the venue comfortable—and a speaker couldn’t ask for a more responsive, more receptive audience. Gregory McNamee, Author and Lecturer
ABOUT US
Samples of past events: Classical cello and piano by Sanda Schuldmann and Harry Clark; concert from Vail Chorale led by Academy member, Fritz Reinagel; lectures on topics in science and art; ASA concert by steel drum band from Empire High; concert by Ronstadt Generations; pre-season Downton Abbey preview at ASA via PBS and KUAT
The non-profit Arizona Senior Academy was conceived by former UA president Henry Koffler before any homes were built in our community. Then and now, the ASA mission has been to support extended learning, creative engagement, mentoring and public service over the entire span of retirement.
The lectures and concerts each week are open to the public and cover a wide range of content from science and technology to health, humanities and creative arts. This diversity also complements the aims of those who are not yet fully retired but wish to explore new interests or prepare for “encore” careers.
Our village is an over-55 community and all residents become full dues-paying Academy members at age 60, providing support for the ASA. In addition to the concerts and lectures each week, the resident members have a number of amenities available to them. For example, the ASA support organization, Academy Services Corporation, runs the Academy Health Care Program on a subscription basis for resident members.
Many supporters from east Tucson and nearby Vail who attend our public events also make contributions to the ASA as “Friends” and “Fans” of the Academy. From time to time, our members and friends also make direct donations to sponsor the appearance of an artist or expert of special interest.
This mosaic depicts a sampler of past events, including a concert by the Vail Chorale founded and led by an Academy member, plus an early preview of the the final season of Downton Abbey which was co-hosted by ASA and our local PBS station KUAT.
To learn more about the ASA and our activities, click any of the topics below.
Lively Arts & Music
Weekly concerts feature classical, pop, jazz, folk and world music of many kinds — plus ample opportunity to interact with artists who are pleased to engage...
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Lifelong Learning
Expert speakers on topics from current events to ancient history, and everything in between plus frequent updates from UA scientists making headlines.
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Public Service
ASA members are encouraged to stay active and use their experience and energy to help the community at large.
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About ASA
Our members have different backgrounds, but share a commitment to making retirement a time of cultural enrichment and intellectual stimulation.
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