The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA), a not-for-profit organization that identifies emerging artists and assists them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development, has announced the first youngARTS™ Colorado Regional Awards. Fifty of Colorado's finest young artists will be honored with cash awards totaling $25,000 in a recognition ceremony May 15 at the Jones Theater in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts complex. Colorado philanthropists Judi and Bob Newman will host the event.
Local winners include:
Ryan Brown of Denver
$700 winner in Cinematic Arts and $700 winner in Novel Writing
Denver School of the Arts
Jordan Canjar of Denver
$300 winner in Visual Arts
East High School
Jordan Casteel of Denver
$300 winner in Visual Arts
East High School
Kate Conger of Denver
$700 winner in Poetry Writing
Denver School of the Arts
Donte Essien of Denver
$700 winner in Theater
Denver School of the Arts
Joe LaFollette of Denver
$300 winner in Theater
Denver School of the Arts
Justine Lupe-Schomp of Denver
$1,000 winner in Theater
Denver School of the Arts
Kara Miller of Denver
$300 winner in Poetry Writing
Denver School of the Arts
Hannah Robbins of Denver
$300 winner in Music/Violincello
Interlochen Arts Academy
Madison Ryckman of Denver
$300 winner in Visual Arts
Denver School of the Arts
Ian Skaronea of Denver
$300 winner in Jazz Saxophone
Denver School of the Arts
Michael Thompson of Denver
$300 winner in Novel Writing
Denver School of the Arts
Taran Van Hemert of Denver
$1,000 winner in Cinematic Arts
Denver School of the Arts
Alejandra Venancio of Denver
$300 winner in Theater
George Washington Senior High School
Adrian Volz of Denver
$300 winner in Visual Arts
Wheat Ridge High School
Leah Watson of Denver
$2,000 winner in Theater
Denver School of the Arts
"Colorado has always held a significance presence in the national youngARTS program," said Dr. Newman, who serves as Vice Chairman on the NFAA Board of Trustees. "We are so proud to honor these extraordinary students right here in our own backyard, and equip them with the support they need to pursue their passion."
Dr. Newman and his wife, Judi - who is also an NFAA Trustee - have taken a leadership role in the creation of the youngARTS Colorado Regional Awards program. The evening will commence at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by special performances by several Colorado youngARTS winners, including Anna Katherine Barnett-Hart, 2003 youngARTS Winner in Violin, and Leah Watson and Julie Almeria, both 2007 youngARTS Winners in Theatre. The 50 honorees will then receive their cash awards. The event is free; however, advance reservations are required.
NFAA's national youngARTS program identifies and rewards exceptional student artists from across the U.S. in nine art disciplines: dance, film and video, classical, pop and jazz music, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing. Each year, up to 160 finalists are invited to Miami for a week-long session of workshops, master classes, live adjudication and performances, and gives cash awards ranging from $500 to $10,000 apiece, for a total awards package of more than $500,000. NFAA is also the exclusive nominating body to the Commission on Presidential Scholars for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts designation, granted to just 20 students each year and offering additional recognition and scholarship opportunities.
For more information about the youngARTS Colorado Regional Awards ceremony, please contact Pilar Pava at (305) 377.1140 or
Pilar@nfaa.org.
To learn more about NFAA, call 800-970-ARTS (2787) or visit
www.youngARTS.org.