It was a night to remember…

On Friday March 25, 2022, the Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. (JLSA) hosted the Funding Arts and Music Education (FAME) Award Ceremony at the Carver Community Cultural Center. Parents, students, teachers, and supporters arrived with excitement in their eyes and a hopeful spirit. Performers were dressed to impress and eager to get on stage. The FAME award ceremony included participants from the following local high schools: Antonian College Preparatory High School, Louis D. Brandeis High School, East Central High School, John M. Harlan High School, Sandra Day O’Connor High School, Ronald Reagan High School, and William Howard Taft High School.

Louis D. Brandeis High School

The competition was fierce. Music, voices, and dancing resonated throughout both levels of the Carver Community Cultural Center. It was a time to embrace the culmination of every performer’s hard work and dedication to the world of art. Students performed in one of the following categories: Instrumental, Theatre, Vocal, and Dance, with each category awarding students up to $2,300 for first place. Time stood still during each performance as proud parents and supporters wiped tears of joy from their faces and smiled brightly for their loved ones to see.

After each performance, performers were guided to the second floor of the venue to watch the remaining contestants and eagerly await the awards ceremony. One after one, performances brought the audience to their feet with applause. There was not a lack of talent in the room that night. As the final performance came to an end, and the talent left the stage, the energy among the crowd was palpable during intermission while the judges made their decision. After such an amazing night, it was only appropriate to celebrate each award recipient with applause and cheering.

A special Junior League Thank You to our judges pictured above

JLSA was honored to have this year’s FAME Awards be judged by Dr. Jean Park (Instrumental), Nicole Erwin (Theatre), Dr. Yoojin Muhn (Vocal), and Tanesha Payne (Dance). The preliminary judges were Jeremy Brimhall (Instrumental), Claudia De Vasco (Theatre), Amber Shodrick (Vocal), and Buse Babadag (Dance).

The following were the 2022 Funding Arts and Music Education Award recipients:

Instrumental

1st Place, Ronald Reagan High School – Awarded $2,300

2nd Place, Sandra Day O’Connor High School – Awarded $1,500

Theatre

1st Place, John M. Harlan High School – Awarded $2,300

2nd Place, Ronald Reagan High School – Awarded $1,500

3rd Place, East Central High School – Awarded $1,100

Vocal

1st Place, William H. Taft Hight School – Awarded $2,300

2nd Place, Ronald Reagan High School – Awarded $1,500

3rd Place, Antonian College Preparatory – Awarded $1,100

Dance

1st Place, Louis D. Brandeis High School – Awarded $2,300

Sandra Day O’Connor High School

The Junior League of San Antonio would like to express a heartfelt THANK YOU to our 2022 FAME Committee Members: Rachel Boaz Toppel (Committee Chair), Julie Ann Matonis (School Liasion), Kate Nummikowski (Applications Coordinator), Hillary Everts (Center Staging/Program Coordinator), Jackie Allen (Hospitality/Volunteer Coordinator), and Gina Morando (Judges Coordinator). This amazing evening would not have been possible without your tireless efforts and continued support of the Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. and the community.

Congratulations to all FAME Award Ceremony participants, winners, supporters, and family members. If passion for the world of art was needed to light up the stars in the sky, the City of San Antonio would have been glowing under the radiant light from the stars that night.

Until next year, keep singing, dancing, acting, and making music.

Reagan High School, 1st place Instrumental

Taft High School, 1st place Vocal

Harlan High School, 1st place Theatre

Brandeis High School, 1st place Dance

Submitted by Dr. Emma Santa Maria, Communications Liaison 2021-2022

The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Learn more at jlsa.org.