25 Talented High School Performers Selected to Receive over $100,000 in Scholarships
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
SAN ANTONIO (March 6, 2019) – The Majestic Empire Foundation is pleased to announce that 25 finalists from 13 high schools in San Antonio and the surrounding area have earned a place at the 2019 Joci Awards, the organization’s 11th annual performing arts scholarship competition. These finalists will sing, act and dance, vying for a chance to win a portion of more than $100,000 in scholarship funds and for two finalists, the chance to participate in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City. The Joci Awards is open to the public and will take place on Sunday, April 14 at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre beginning at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.
Competitors will step into the spotlight having been chosen from a field of more than 135 applicants from 42 schools throughout South Texas. All 25 finalists are guaranteed scholarship funds ranging from $3,000 to $6,000, with notable guest judges evaluating their live performances on April 14 to determine the amount for each. An additional $10,000 will be awarded to the best overall performance. In 2019, Las Casas will award its one-millionth dollar, maintaining its designation as the largest scholarship funding source of its kind in the United States.
“The Joci Awards celebrates the performing arts and Texas’ rising stars. It’s exhilarating and exciting to recognize the amount of young talent in Texas, especially here in San Antonio,” says Kevin Parman, President of the Board of Directors for The Majestic Empire Foundation. “The scholarship program is highly competitive, so to be selected as a finalist is a true honor.”
The five categories included are: Acting, Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Dance and Vocal. The finalists for this year’s Joci Awards are:
Acting
Mick Buck – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Nathan Daniel Cazares – Brackenridge High School; San Antonio, TX
Samuel Egger – Stevens High School; San Antonio, TX
Mikayla Johnson – Edgewood Fine Arts Academy; San Antonio, TX
Cleon Ony – Reagan High School; San Antonio, TX
Claire Tablizo – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Best Lead Actor in a Musical*
Jackson Hager as Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! – Reagan High School; San Antonio, TX
Jeremy Kohler as The Baker in Into the Woods – Churchill High School; San Antonio, TX
Kohl Robinson as Khashoggi in We Will Rock You – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Best Lead Actress in a Musical*
Samantha Beckman as Killer Queen in We Will Rock You – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Katie Bulen as The Drowsy Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone – Taft High School; San Antonio, TX
Carolina Isabella Campos as Dolly Gallagher Levi in Hello, Dolly! – Reagan High School; San Antonio, TX
Kaitlyn Dutton as Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls – Madison High School; San Antonio, TX
Sydney White as Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly! – Reagan High School; San Antonio, TX
Dance
Kaben Danae Benavides – Advanced Learning Academy; San Antonio, TX
Peyton Davis – O’Connor High School; San Antonio, TX
Erin Scott – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Emma Vicana – Johnson High School; San Antonio, TX
Cameron Wood – iUniversity; San Antonio, TX
Vocal
Julianna Ingram – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Mary Lantz – Reagan High School; San Antonio, TX
Claire McGinlay – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Kyla Smith – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Christian Tinajero – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Lexie Williams – New Braunfels High School; New Braunfels, TX
* Finalists in the Best Lead Actor in a Musical and Best Lead Actress in a Musical categories are eligible to advance to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City.
Tickets for the Joci Awards start at $15 and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745.3000, or in person at the Majestic Theatre Box Office, located at 226 East Houston Street. Ticket sales benefit the organization’s scholarship and educational programs.
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About The Majestic Empire Foundation — The Majestic Empire Foundation is dedicated to the development of the performing arts through education and scholarships, and the restoration and preservation of historic theatres. The Majestic Empire Foundation offers a variety of educational initiatives to nurture and grow the performing arts, including the Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Program, which awards more than $100,000 in scholarship funds annually, as well as additional educational and training opportunities like Behind the Scenes and Camp Broadway. For more information, visit www.lascasasfoundation.org.
