This year’s Visual & Performing Arts Awards, hosted by the Dramatic Society, highlighted the range of talent across film, dance, music, and visual arts. Honors were awarded for outstanding artistry, leadership, and growth to recognize everything from bold vocal debuts to quiet contributions behind the scenes. You can view more photos from the Visual & Performing Arts Awards here.
Dance Awards
Outstanding Third Form Dedication in Dance: Juniper Winnecour ’28
Outstanding Dedication & Improvement in Dance: Jessie Acquah ’26
Outstanding Dedication & Achievement in Dance: Sara Wan ’27
Outstanding Dedication, Contribution, and Innovation in Dance: Lilly Andrews-Edwards ’25 & Adi Cross ’26
Outstanding Contribution & Achievement as a Dance Ensemble in Performance: Lilly Andrews-Edwards ’25, Vivienne Chen ’28, Adi Cross ’26, Nicole Marmann ’27, Sara Wan ’27, Juniper Winnecour ’28, Elizabeth Witten ’28, Aileen Wu ’26, Estella Wu ’28, Trinity Yao ’27.
Music Awards
Outstanding Musicianship in Handbell Ringing: Ethan Stark ’26
Outstanding Musicianship in Instrumental Music: Jasmine Shen’26
Outstanding Musicianship in Vocal Music: Samuel Huang ’26
Four-Year Commitment to Chorus: Jenn Xu ’25 & Tianlu Qiao ’25
The Tri-M Music Honor Society is a program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) which focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy. Tri-M recognizes students who have gone above and beyond in using their musical talents to better their school and local community. Students who have earned a spot in this honor society this year have been musically active all year in throughout chorus, a cappella, handbells, orchestra, and chorus. Some take private lessons and play in the Asheville Youth Symphony in their free time. Most were enrolled in at least one music elective class this year, performed in convo or chapel went caroling at local nursing homes, performed in the talent show, a coffee house, participated in an afternoon music activity, or were on stage in the musical.
Seniors will receive Tri-M Music Honor Society cords to wear on graduation day, and underclassmen will receive a certificate.
Seniors Inductees: Mia Alvarez, Lilly Andrews-Edwards, Marni Ashrafi, Chloe Butler, Cameron Hawklove, Shelby Hippen
Underformer Inductees: Benjamin Bernstein, Samuel Huang, Avery Kang, Evelyn Lee, Henry Plaehn, Brock Schofield, Jasmine Shen, Diego Vazquez Guillen, Aileen Wu, Trinity Yao, Miranda Zhang, Ethan Stark
Student-Voted Orchestra Awards
The Most Improved Musician Award: Evelyn Lee ’27
The Spotlight Award: Diego Vazquez Guillen ’28
Most Valuable Player: Jasmine Shen ’26
Student-Voted Vocal Music Awards
The Breakout Vocalist Award: Beckett Holmes ’25
The Bold Voice Award: Justin Rowe ’25
The Vocal Anchor Award: Mia Alvarez ’25
The “Pass the Torch – Treble Edition” Award: Jessie Acquah ’26
The “Pass the Torch – Bass Edition” Award: Samuel Huang
Visual Arts Awards
The Young Visionary Award: Nesya Klausner ’28
The Excellence in Visual Art Award: Julia Gascue Brinquis ’26
The Life-Saver Award: Virginia Phillips ’26
The Design Dynamo Award: Oli Centeno-Oxford ’26
The Palette Prodigy Award: Juniper Winnecour ’28
Bounce Back Award: Nina Hager ’25
Regional Scholastic Art Award Recipients: Additional information about the Regional Scholastic Art Award Recipients can be found here.
Performing Arts Awards
Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Performing Arts: Adi Cross ’26
Outstanding Contribution in Performing Arts: Ethan Stark ’26
Outstanding Third Form Contribution in Performing Arts: Diego Vazquez Guillen ’28
Outstanding Achievement in Film Production: Chris Li ’27
International Thespian Society Induction
The Dramatic Society is the longest-running student organization at Asheville School. This year, we have joined the International Thespian Society, an affiliation that brings credibility and distinction to high school theatre programs and students.
International Thespian Society Inductees: Tianlu Qiao ’25, Lilly Andrews-Edwards ’25, Chloe Butler ’25, Molly Green ’25, Zarion Beavers ’25, Marni Ashrafi ’25, Shelby Hippen ’25, Ethan Stark ’26, Adi Cross ’26, Oli Centeno-Oxford ’26, Elizabeth Witten, Lillian Johnson, Nicole Marmann, Jennifer She, Chris Li, Rocket Pan
The Off Book & On Time Award: Ethan Stark ’26
The Make It Work Award: Elizabeth Witten ’26
The Engineering Award: Molly Green ’25 & Chris Li ’27
Best Projection Award: Nicole Marmann ’27
The Master of Ceremonies Award: Chloe Butler ’25 & Shelby Hippen ’25