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.
Click below or scroll to learn more.
Upcoming Events · Attend an Event · Subscribe to Event List · Map and Contacts · About ASAORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
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 2020. After a strong effort by a number of Academy members and the cooperation of our presenters, we have re-opened on a “virtual” basis with concerts presented on YouTube, and lectures delivered via Zoom Webinars and later on videos accessible from this website.
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.
“Toru Tagawa & Friends Trio” – posted 4/20/2021
The Arizona Senior Academy presents a concert by violinist Toru Tagawa, cellist Helena Pedersen, and pianist Kyungsun Choi, recorded at SAACA’s Catalyst Maker Space in the Tucson Mall before a limited live audience. The program includes the Rondo from “Haffner” Serenade K.250 by Mozart, arranged by Fritz Kreisler; J.S. Bach’s Sonata for Viola da Gamba No. 2 BWV 1028; the Romance for Violin and Piano by Amy Beach; and Beethoven’s Piano Trio in G Major Op. 70 No. 1, “The Ghost.” Toru Tagawa is music director and conductor of the Tucson Repertory Orchestra; Helena Pedersen is cello principal for the Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra; and Dr. Kyungsun Choi is an active teacher, collaborative and solo pianist, performing throughout Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Click link to watch video: https://youtu.be/gDmzfnxuYis
To access the complete set of ASA-sponsored video concerts, go to: https://www.asa-tucson.org/video-concert
ASA LECTURE UPDATE: New Lectures from the Arizona Senior Academy
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.)
VIDEOS OF THE WEBINARS: Some of the Webinars will be available 10 days after each presentation. Please click on this page for information on the available videos and how to access them.
“Hindu Goddesses”
Caleb Simmons
2:30-3:30 pm, an ASA Zoom Webinar*
Caleb Simmons returns to ASA to consider the question kept alive by many feminist philosophers: What if God was a woman? Starting from a brief overview of goddess traditions in India, Professor Simmons will discuss both the historical and contemporary place of women in these traditions, as well as the ways that imagery of the divine feminine has been mobilized for social change. Read more . . .
What is a Poem?
Nancy Fitzgerald
2:30-3:30,
an ASA Zoom Webinar*
Poetry Editor of The Village News Nancy Fitzgerald will guide us through some of her recent choices for the newsletter, examining such verbal elements as imagery, diction, lineation, and metaphor in relation to content. A session for everyone from poets to those who want to know how you can even tell it’s a poem if it doesn’t rhyme. Read more . . .
At the present time, due to the Covid Pandemic, there are no live lectures or music presentations. However, Video Concerts are being made during this time, and can be found here: VIDEO CONCERTS. In addition, Videos of some of the the lecture webinars have been made and may be found here: WEBINAR VIDEOS.
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!
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 that supports the Academy Villas, an assisted living residence.
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.
Lifelong Learning
Expert speakers on topics from current events to ancient history, and everything in between plus frequent updates from UA scientists making headlines.
Read More
Public Service
ASA members are encouraged to stay active and use their experience and energy to help the community at large.
Read More
About ASA
Our members have different backgrounds, but share a commitment to making retirement a time of cultural enrichment and intellectual stimulation.
Read More