Imagine Austin’s version of the Tony Awards — only more impactful! The Heller Awards for Young Artists boosts visibility for high school musical theatre programs and produces a community-building event while celebrating the talent and discipline of thousands of students and educators in the Greater Austin area.

Participating schools come together to pay tribute to the value of arts education, collaboration, and creativity. Through award recognition, master classes, hands-on training with industry professionals, critical evaluations with constructive feedback, scholarships, program grants, and community-wide awareness, the HAYAs celebrate, elevate, and expand musical theatre and the arts in our schools, families, and communities.

Starting in 2014 with 19 participating schools, the program has exapanded exponentially, supporting the continued growth of young adults into the leaders of tomorrow. Whether their futures lie in the performing arts, private sector, public service, or fields that don’t exist yet, the HAYAs are their gateway to a bright, colorful future.