Young Texas Artists Announces Big Comeback, Expanded Offerings

Organization will present Fine Arts Weekend March 10-13, 2022

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – Oct. 20, 2021 – After two canceled seasons due to COVID-19, performing arts organization Young Texas Artists (YTA) announced a 2022 comeback with dramatically expanded events during YTA’s Classics At The Glade party. The event, held at Glade Cultural Center in The Woodlands Oct. 15, featured food, art and spectacular performances by YTA alumni.

Party guests learned that in addition to a return of the Young Texas Artists Music Competition for emerging classical artists and the Bach, Beethoven & Barbecue gala, YTA has even more planned for 2022.

The Young Texas Artists Fine Arts Weekend will feature a Fine Art Show, a Dance Performance, and a Poetry Showcase — all spotlighting emerging Texas stars.

The Fine Arts Weekend is set for Thursday, March 10, through Sunday, March 13.

“Texas has a wealth of talented, inspiring emerging artists, not only in classical music, but in all of the arts,” said  Susie Moore Pokorski, President/CEO of Young Texas Artists. “The Young Texas Artists Fine Arts Weekend will help showcase our state’s exciting young talent as well as the Lone Star State’s rich and thriving arts scene.”

During her announcement, Pokorski introduced the professionals chairing YTA’s three added events. They are:

  • Joseph Staley, who has an impressive background in gallery exhibitions, chair and coordinator of the Fine Arts Show;
  • Dede Fox, Montgomery County’s poet laureate, chair and director of the Poetry Showcase; and
  • LuAnne Carter, former head of the Dance Department at Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, chair and director of YTA’s Dance Performance.

The private party, held in honor of those who supported the inaugural YTA Annual Fund, featured captivating classical music performances by soprano Brennan Blankenship, the YTA Competition’s 2017 and 2019 Gold Medalist in Voice; Zhengyi Huang, 2020 Gold Medalist in Piano; and countertenor Michael Skarke, 2020 Silver Medalist in Voice.

Craig Stephan served as the evening’s accompanist and pianist.

Master of Ceremonies Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, expressed appreciation for YTA board member Mimi Sadler, 2021 Classics At The Glade Chair, YTA Artistic Director Emelyne Bingham, and Brandon Steinmann, attending from the office of Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), with Jessica Steinmann.

Staley encouraged audience members to attend the YTA Finalists’ Concert and Awards on Saturday, March 12, to see the same level of exceptional talent that they experienced at the party.

Young Texas Artists Music Competition, an Official Music Competition of the State of Texas, provides performance, growth and career development opportunities for exceptionally talented artists from around the world. The competition is open to classical artists ages 18-32 (ages 20-32 for Voice) who are Texas residents or affiliated with a Texas music school.

Participants compete in four divisions: Voice; Piano; Strings; and Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar. Professional performance opportunities and a total of $40,000 in monetary prizes are awarded.

About Young Texas Artists:

Young Texas Artists, founded in 1983, is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit presenter of music competitions and events, career development programs and cultural enrichment outreach. The nationally acclaimed Young Texas Artists Music Competition and the YTA Career Development Program provide professional guidance, mentoring and highly sought performance experience. An Official Music Competition of the State of Texas, it is one of the few competitions in the nation with the four performance divisions of Voice; Piano; Strings; and Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar. The YTA contest is open to classical artists, ages 18-32 (20-32 for Voice), who are Texas residents or affiliated with a Texas music school.  Over the years, Young Texas Artists has helped produce many distinguished professionals who have gone on to join orchestras, opera companies, universities and music schools around the world.

Affiliations:

Young Texas Artists is a member of the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance, the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Cultural Trust and Texas for the Arts.

Young Texas Artists, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded and headquartered in Conroe, Montgomery County.