MIAMI: National YoungArts Foundation has announced the 2021 YoungArts award winners. The 659 recipients are recognized as the most accomplished young visual, literary, and performing artists from across the country, who will receive financial, creative, and professional development support from the YoungArts organization.
“YoungArts empowers artists to pursue a life in the arts, beginning at the critical time when many are faced with decisions about life after high school,” said executive director Jewel Malone in a statement. “This group of extraordinary artists has reminded us yet again that extraordinary artistry is ageless, and I encourage everyone to get to know these faces and names as we will be seeing them for many years to come. To all of this year’s winners, congratulations! This is just the start of YoungArts’ commitment to supporting your careers, we look forward to working to with you and supporting your artistic and professional development.”
The awardees are selected by discipline-specific panels, and the YoungArts awards are given in three categories: Finalist, Honorable Mention and Merit. This year, YoungArts award winners at all levels will receive cash prizes between $100 and $10,000.
The theatre finalists include Jordan Anderson, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; Christian Arrubla, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dallas; Mikenzi Barrow, Myers Park High School, Charlotte, N.C.; Isaiah Boozer, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Greenville, S.C.; Kaylah Copeland, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; Evan Hoefer, Shorecrest Preparatory School, St Petersburg, Fla.; Kate Louissaint, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, New York City; Marshall Mabry IV, Homeschool, Fairburn, Ga.; Ella Maguire Saint Augustine High School, Saint Augustine, Fla.; Emma Maloney, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; Chloe Meinershagen, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dallas; Josiah Mitchell Tri-Cities High School, East Point, Ga.; Landon Robinson, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dallas; Chelsea Rose, Durham School of the Arts, Durham, N.C.; Shelby Smith, Riverdale High School, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Maya Sta Ana, Howell High School, Farmingdale, N.J.; Nicole Streger, Bernards High School, Bernardsville, N.J.; Daisy Tye, Huntington Beach High School, Huntington Beach, Calif.; and Tyler Wesley, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Greenville, S.C.
Winners at the Finalist level are invited to participate in National YoungArts Week + in January 2021, which will feature virtual classes, workshops, and mentorship from leading artists in their fields, as well as virtual performances and an exhibition for the public. Finalists are also eligible to be nominated to become a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of the highest honors given high school seniors bestowed by the President of the United States. A complete list of the 2021 winners, all 15–18 years old or in grades 10–12, is available online at youngarts.org/winners.
