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
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 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.
“Grams & Krieger Blues Duo” – posted 1/10/2021
Blues fans rejoice – Grams & Krieger are back! These Arizona Blues Hall of Famers are mainstays of the Tucson music scene and always guarantee a good time with their style of blues. Steve Grams has built a reputation as one of Tucson’s most reliable acoustic and electric bassists. Danny Krieger is one of the Southwest’s most respected guitarists/slide guitarists. Steve and Danny have been making music together for some 20 years, but like to say that their combined professional musical experience spans over 100 years – their music is timeless. Their video concert for the Arizona Senior Academy gets us into the spirit of a better world in 2021! (Be patient with the first 10-20 seconds of the video before they get under way…)
Click link to view concert: https://youtu.be/V0GfoQNSu7E
To access the complete set of ASA-sponsored video concerts, go to: https://www.asa-tucson.org/video-concerts
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.
“Coming Home to a Place You’ve Never Been Before: Immigration, Refugee Resettlement, and Citizenship”
Rodo Sofranac
2:30-3:30 pm, an ASA and AZ Humanities Zoom Webinar*
After a 20+-minute video showing numerous issues confronting immigrants, activist Rodo Sofranac will ask for stories and discussion from the viewers to enlarge and explore our understanding of the contemporary immigrant experience. Read more . . .
To access the webinar you must register with AZ Humanities, the organization sponsoring the program. To do so, click on webinar registration link and fill in the form. The link to the program will then be sent to you before the talk.
“Telling Stories with Pictures”
Daniel Duncan
2:30-3:30 pm, an ASA Zoom Webinar*
Director, producer and videographer Daniel Duncan, of UA’s Southwest Center and the PBS documentary series The Desert Speaks and In the Americas with David Yetman, will tell us how he approaches narrative in film. 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)
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 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.
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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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