The Majestic Empire Foundation is pleased to announce that 25 finalists from 11 high schools in San Antonio and South Texas have earned a place at the 2018 Joci Awards, the organization’s 10th annual performing arts scholarship competition. These finalists will sing, act and dance, vying for a chance to win a portion of $105,000 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, May 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.
Competitors will step into the spotlight, having been chosen from a field of more than 125 entries from 44 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 May 20 to determine the amount for each. An additional $10,000 will be awarded to the best overall performance.
The five categories included are: Acting, Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Dance and Vocal. The finalists for the 10th Annual Joci Awards are:
ACTING:
Gilberto Beltran – Donna North High School; Donna, TX
Mick Buck – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Mikayla Johnson – Edgewood Fine Arts Academy; San Antonio, TX
Katerina Pourliakas – Ronald Reagan High School; San Antonio, TX
Gabriel Samandi – International School of the Americas; San Antonio, TX
Roberto Soto – McCollum High School; San Antonio, TX
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL*:
Drake Leach as Gomez Addams in The Addams Family – Saint Mary’s Hall; San Antonio, TX
Jose Ruiz-Gonzalez as Che in Evita – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Andrew Swetonic as Curly McLain in Oklahoma! – Ronald Reagan High School; San Antonio, TX
Caden Thomas as Billy Flynn in Chicago – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL*:
Bella Campos as Ado Annie in Oklahoma! – Ronald Reagan High School; San Antonio, TX
Lauren Cole as Ariel in The Little Mermaid – Sandra Day O’Connor High School; San Antonio, TX
Andrea Diaz as Velma Kelly in Chicago – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Emily Edwards as Eva Peron in Evita – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Eleanor Hardwick as Roxie Hart in Chicago – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Amber Mawande-Spytek as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz – Seguin High School; Seguin, TX
Presley Weber as Diana Goodman in Next to Normal – Alamo Heights High School; San Antonio, TX
DANCE:
Abigail Amaya – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Peyton Davis – Sandra Day O’Connor High School; San Antonio, TX
Emma Vicana – Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson High School; San Antonio, TX
VOCAL:
Katerina Damm – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Olivia Eguia – Alamo Heights High School; San Antonio, TX
Zander Herrera – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Sophia (Skye) Palmer – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, TX
Hannah Peyton – North East School of the Arts; San Antonio, 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.
