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About the Visual Arts Contest...

The annual Culture Shapers Visual Arts Contest enables student artists to compete for more than $85,000 in cash prizes in six categories... drawing, painting, electronic media, mixed media, photography and sculpture. The contest takes place in the Fall, and is open to all High School Students in Harris, Waller, Liberty, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.

Students receive a commemorative t-shirt with their entry fee of $20. Entry forms are downloaded from the website and parents, students or teachers deliver the entries to the drop-off location.

Each year, the Culture Shapers Volunteer Staff receive about 1,500 entries! This year, jurying will take place on Sunday, November 2nd. The top ten finalists in each category are personally invited to the exclusive Awards Night, where the winners are finally announced!

About the Culture Shapers Jurying Process...

Culture Shapers jurors are a combination of educators and professionals, who come highly recommended to us by other notable organizations, such as the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), as well as others. Many of our jurors have experience both in and out of the classroom, which gives them a unique and valuable perspective on evaluating student artwork. Click here to read more about the Culture Shapers jurying process.

The Visual Arts Awards Ceremony

Click here for details about the Visual Arts Awards Ceremony!

About Young Voices of Houston...

In 2005, Culture Shapers expanded into the performing arts, with the Young Voices of Houston performing arts contest. Featuring ten to twelve of the top vocalists from area high schools, Young Voices provides these talented students the opportunity to perform vocal works for a live audience and compete for cash prizes! Young Voices of Houston competitions are held several times throughout the year. Click here to learn more about Young Voices of Houston!



September 23 Semi Moved To Oct. 7th

Due to hurricane Ike, we are moving the Sept 23rd semi final to Oct. 7th meaning there will be two in October with the regularly scheduled Oct. 21st and the postponed Sept 23rd to Oct. 7th.

1-Bethany Trevino is a Sophmore at Klein Collins where Jeannie Bryant and Jody Hass have taught her. Bethany was more recently seen in the Houston Family Arts Center Production of Les Mis as Eponine. She is the current winner of 93Q Country Best Country Singer in Houston. Bethany has been singing since she could talk. She loves to perform. She has done shows with The Humphery school at TUTS, Mascarade, Playhouse 1960 and Houston Family Arts Center. She is a regular at the Texas Opry in Magnolia. She will be singing “I’m The Greatest Star”

2-Jessie Williams III is a Senior at Spring High School where Denise Eaton and Mark Swindler have taught him. Jessie, an ambassador at his high school, has performed all over the city of Houston, in DC, in NY, and in PA. He earned a superior rating in last year’s UIL competition and went on to perform with the All Region Choir. Jessie attended this summer’s All State Choir camp at Sam Houston State University and looks forward to performing with the All State choir this year. Jessie comes from a legacy of musicians, and he is proud to be part of the Cultureshapers family. He will perform “Oh What a Beautiful Morning.”

3-Danny Dyer is a Junior at Klein Oak High School and is taught by Robert Collett. He has been in the cast of Oak’s musicals since Freshman year as well as other shows around Houston. Most recently he was seen in Les Mis at Houston Family Arts Center and as Sweeney Todd at Applause Theatre. Singing is one of his favorite pasttimes and he hopes to one day make a career of it. Danny will be singing “Hallelujah.”

4-Jacob Buras is a senior at Klein high school and is recommended by Jody Haas. Jacob has been performing for many years. He has most recently been seen as Javert in HFAC’s production of Les Mis and The Ringleader in the southwest premiere of Stephen Schwartz’ Geppetto & Son at TUTS. He has also been Frederic in Pirates of Penzance and has performed at many TUTS functions. He would like to thank his family and Mrs. Haas for their support. He will be singing “Music Of The Night”.

5-Patrice Johnson is a senior at Kashmere high school where her teacher Mrs. Prince has recommended her. Patrice has been singing for the past 4 years in schooland church choirs. Last year she recieved a superior and an excellent rating in district and state solo competitions. She also won her school-wide talent show. Patrice will be singing “I Am Changing” from Dreamgirls.

6-Tyce Green is a senior at Klein High School and another Jody Haas student. Tyce enjoys singing and plans to major in musical theater in college. His most recent roles were Thenardier in Les Miserables, and Buonragazzo in the TUTS production of Geppetto & Son. In October, he will appear as Saunders in Lend Me a Tenor. He will be singing Confrontation from Jekyll & Hyde

7-Victoria Towery is a junior at Klein High School and was influenced through her teacher Judy Boyter. Victoria has loved lighting up the stage since 5th grade and is in a hot pursuit to continue theater professionally after high school. Her previous performances have included Rose Alverez in Bye Bye Birdie and Madame Thanardier in Les Miserabes. Look for her in October where she will be exhuming her passion once more on the Klein Stage as Maggie in Lend me a Tenor. To be cliché, yet sincere. Victoria will be singing Never Again.

8-Sydney Roberts, a homeschooled sophmore has been performing since the age of 7. She has performed at many theatres around the Houston area including Masquerade Theatre, TUTS, Mainstreet Theatre, HFAC, Texas Repertory Theatre and Playhouse 1960. She studies voice with Jody Haas and placed first NATS Musical Theatre Division, 2008. She will be performing “Don’t Ask Me Why”.

9-Nicolas Lopez is a Sophmore at Tomall who has been singing in choir for 6 years. He’s competed in the TMEA All-State Competition this past year and was ranked 10th in the area level audition. He recieved a superior rating in Solo and Ensemble. Nicolas also won the Freshmen Level NATS Classical competition last year. The only musical theatre experiance that he has however, is a performence in School House Rock in Junior High but he’s auditioning for Into The Woods. He enjoys singing and he will be singing Sixteen Going on Seventeen from The Sound of Music

10-Robert Lewis is a Junior at Tomball high school. He has participated in many performances of plays and musicals through the Tomball STAGE and Houston Family Arts Center. He has also competed at the Greater Houston NATS Musical Theatre and Classical Singing Competitions–winning 1st place in both last year. He plans to audition for Tomball’s production of Into the Woods this fall. He will be singing Coffee In A Cardboard Cup (from 70, Girls, 70) by John Kander and Fred Ebb

11-Rebekah Howell is a Senior at Klein High School. She has been singing since she could make sound and was seen in shows in the past at Klein High School and HFAC. She’s a 3 year All-State Choir Member – ranked 1st and 2nd in state in the past two years on Soprano 1, has won first place in either classical or musical theatre Local NATS for the past two years, won second place in classical voice for high school woment at Texahoma Region NATS in 2008, and serves as Choir President for Klein High School Choir under the direction of Phil Raddin. She will be singing, The Girl in 14G

12-Chantel Bartholomew is a Junior at Cinco Ranch High School. Chantel has been performing her whole life, and enjoys singing at the local Assisted Living home in her community. Chantel has been a participant in the Texas All-State Contest, and went to State for her Solo in the Solo & Ensemble Contest this past spring. She is currently involved in her school’s mixed show choir, Bravo and Varsity Choir. Chantel loves Musical Theatre but has a burning passion for Country music, a venue she hopes to one day pursue a career in. Chantel Bartholomew will be performing I’m only me When I’m with you by Taylor Swift.

We now have the full allotment of twelve performers. You can either send in a registration as a back up in case someone drops out, or apply for the October 21st date. Good luck to all. And come on out to WATCH, and VOTE for your favorite performer. Your vote counts for 50% of the rating, with the judges determining the other 50% of the scoring.