The Butler Texas Young Masters
A joint program between the Texas Cultural Trust and the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA), the Butler Texas Young Masters awards scholarship grants to deserving young artists in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literary arts, and other artistic disciplines.
The Trust announces a new class of Young Masters every biennium at an awards show celebrating the drive and talent of fifteen 8th through 11th grade students. Each student receives a $10,000 scholarship grant, over two years, to further their studies in their chosen field. Butler Texas Young Masters helps our state’s rising stars realize their potential as the next generation of leading visionaries in the arts.
Announcing The Sarah and Ernest Butler
Texas Young Masters Endowment
We are beyond grateful to Sarah and Dr. Ernest Butler, for their remarkable endowment of the Texas Young Masters. Their generous gift of $2.5 million establishes the first endowment for the program. Their visionary support ensures the growth of young artistic talent across the state. Together, we cultivate the next generation of creative brilliance and pave the way for the Texas legends of tomorrow. Thank you for nurturing dreams and inspiring greatness.
Read More About the Endowment
The 2026 Butler Texas Young Masters celebration will be held at Zach Theater in Austin, Texas on April 13, 2026.
For more information/questions on tickets and sponsorship please email info@txculturaltrust.org
The Texas Young Masters program is a joint initiative between the Texas Cultural Trust and the Texas Commission on the Arts, recognizing creative excellence in 8th through 11th graders in dance, theatre, literary arts, media arts, film, music, and visual arts. The program awards scholarship grants of $5,000 per year, for two years, nurturing our rising stars to become the Texas legends of tomorrow.
The program is available to students engaged in the arts, offering financial assistance to develop their unique talents. Students may be enrolled in a program through their school or receive private lessons from a qualified professional instructor.
Applications For The 2026 Class Are Now Closed
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This content is credited to the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Application Criteria
Artistic Quality (50 points)
Does the student currently evidence a high level of aptitude and skill in their chosen field for their current age?
Capability (25 points)
Is the course of study appropriate for the student? Has the applicant provided substantial evidence that there is a strong commitment on the part of the student, instructor, and parents?
Impact (25 points)
Is the course of study likely to achieve the intended goals? Will support for the application provide an opportunity not otherwise available to the student (because of economic need, geographic isolation, or lack of appropriate expertise/opportunity within the community to pursue specific artistic development/genre)?
Your support underwrites scholarship funding for Texas Young Masters over 2026 and 2027. The Texas Young Masters program helps our state’s rising stars realize their potential as the next generation of leading visionaries in the arts.
Sponsorships offer an exclusive guest experience with opportunities for premium event access, branding, and recognition.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 TEXAS YOUNG MASTERS SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor
Sarah & Ernest Butler Endowed Young Masters Award in Music
Two-Year Scholarship Sponsors
Champion Sponsors
Host Committee
One-Year Scholarship Sponsors
Young Masters Supporters
Christopher Vo
Vo used his scholarship grant to do a summer of study at Juilliard, which led to his eventual acceptance into the Juilliard program — one of only ten freshmen who received a full scholarship. He has toured extensively in Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away national tour. He was also a featured dancer in the NBC show Smash and is recognized as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Vo is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School of the Performing and Visual Arts.
Ida Saki
Saki is a first generation Iranian-American from Dallas, whose love of dance stems in part from her mother not being able to study the art form as a young girl in Iran. Since Young Masters, she has wowed the judges on So You Think You Can Dance, and received numerous national honors, including Distinguished Performer of the Year and Outstanding Dancer of the Year. She was also the first female dancer to be named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Saki also co-created/performed in a show that premiered at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Charles Yang
Described by The Boston Globe as, “One who plays classical violin with the charisma of a rock star”, Yang has performed as a soloist with orchestras and in recitals in the United States, Europe, Brazil, Russia, China, and Taiwan. He is also the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Yang attended The Juilliard School after graduating from Westlake High School in Austin.
Ann Cho
Cho is a two-time National Young Arts Foundation Winner in Classical Music. She has won top prizes at the MTNA National Solo Competition, Austin Civic Orchestra’s Pearl Amster Competition, Austin Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Awards, and the Longy School of Music’s Concerto Competition. At the age of five, she was the youngest violinist of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra.