DANCING HER WAY TO THE TEXAS YOUNG MASTERS

By Trishna Buch
Isha Parupudi, an 11th grader at Clear Spring High School, is one of 15 students who has been selected for the 2018 class of Texas Young Masters. Her selection was announced earlier this month by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Cultural Trust.  According to a Texas Commission on the Arts press release,
“Texas Young Masters, a joint initiative between the Trust and TCA, recognizes 8th through 11th grade students who demonstrate artistic excellence in dance, theater, film, music, media, and literary and visual arts. The program awards 15 students with $10,000 multi-year scholarships to enhance and build their professional artistic study and provide access to opportunities they otherwise might not have before college. The Trust celebrates a new class of  Young Masters every biennium with an awards presentation to highlight their drive, talent, and creativity.”  Parupudi, who was selected for participation in the Indian Classical dance category, was one of over 300 students who applied from across the state. Out of the 300 students who applied, the selected 15 are, according to the Texas
Commission on the Arts, deemed “the state’s most talented young artists.” Furthermore, since its creation in 2002, the Texas Young Masters program has provided grants to over 100 students (Young Masters) totaling approximately
$993,000. In a press release by the Texas Commission on the Arts, its executive director Gary Gibbs said “the Texas Young Masters grant program was created as a way to recognize and support young students pursuing the dream of becoming the next generation of prominent Texas artists.”  In the press release Gibbs also said that “these gifted artists earned the Young Masters title because of their outstanding artistic ability, talent, and dedication to developing their knowledge in their chosen discipline.  We congratulate them on their accomplishments.”
On April 16 Parupudi, and the other students selected, will be recognized at the ZACH Theatre in Austin.  The event will feature Cecilia Abbott as honorary chair and Ashley Covert, Gerardo Interiano, Maya Smart and Natasa Valocchi as event chairs. For information on registration, go online to txculturaltrust.org/young-masters.  The Texas Commission on the Arts press release included a list of all of the students selected to the Young Masters. Students come from all over Texas including from Nacogdoches, Dallas, Katy and Austin. The talents included
dance, piano, musical theater, special effects makeup, violin and much more.
The Post congratulates Parupudi and all of the newly selected Young Masters on their accomplishments!