Eight students from Austin have been named to the 2006 class of Young Masters, as designated by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Cultural Trust Council. The program recognizes outstanding artists in grades 8-12 with scholarships – up to $2,500 per year – to further their studies in the discipline of their choice: literature, theatre, dance, visual art, music, or media arts. Mitchell Collier, Bailey Middle School; Sarah Crowe and Sarah Welch, McCallum Fine Arts Academy; Stephanie Chen, Westwood; Natalie Freeman, Stephen F. Austin; Damien Green; Sean Maddox, Westlake; and Marco Villa, McCallum, were among the 27 students from across the state honored at a luncheon at the Driskill Hotel on April 5. Villa also received the Applied Materials Young Master Award, given annually to an artist attending school in the Austin area. In addition to an orientation session for the newest Young Masters and their parents, previous honorees – old Young Masters? – such as local violin prodigy Caitlin Tully shared stories of their experiences. For more information, visit www.tca40.com or www.txculturaltrust.org.
This article appears in April 21 • 2006.