A San Antonio student at the North East School of the Arts has been named a Texas Young Master, earning a grant to support her studies in musical theater.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio student is being recognized as one of the state’s top young artists.
Isabella Cervera, an 11th grader at the North East School of the Arts, has been named a 2026 Butler Texas Young Master, a prestigious statewide honor for talented student artists.
The recognition comes from the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Cultural Trust, which selected 15 students from across Texas for this year’s class.
As part of the honor, Cervera will receive $5,000 per year for two years, a total of $10,000, to support advanced training in musical theater.
The Butler Texas Young Masters program recognizes students in grades 8 through 11 who demonstrate exceptional artistic talent and dedication in fields such as music, theater, dance, film, writing and visual arts.
Since the program began in 2002, organizers say 199 young artists have been recognized, with more than $1.3 million invested in their artistic development.
Leaders with the Texas Commission on the Arts say the program is designed to support young creatives pursuing careers in the arts.
“The Young Masters grant program was created as a way to recognize and support young people pursuing the dream of becoming prominent Texan artists of the next generation,” said Gary Gibbs, executive director of the agency.
Cervera and the other students selected for the 2026 class will be honored during a special awards celebration April 13 at ZACH Theatre in Austin.
Supporters of the program say initiatives like this help expand opportunities for young artists and highlight the broader benefits of arts education, which research shows can improve academic outcomes, emotional development and college readiness.
For Cervera, the recognition places her among the state’s next generation of rising creative talent.