Jameson Falconer, a senior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, has received a 2021 National YoungArts Foundation award.
Falconer was recognized in the Voice category at the Merit level, and is one of 659 young artists from across the country to receive an award this year.
YoungArts’ winners are the nation’s most accomplished young artists between the ages of 15 and 18 in the visual, literary, design, and performing arts.
“To me, this award is a validation that I can grow as a musician,” Falconer said.
“Freshman year of high school, I tried out for the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition and didn’t make it, in my sophomore year I made it all the way to the finals and won the most side awards, as well as received a full-tuition scholarship from Berklee College of Music to go to their five-week camp; in my junior year I worked my butt off, and now in my senior year I won this award. This award has shown me that sometimes all it takes is hard work and time for results to follow.”
Falconer’s award submission included four recordings of popular music: one written after the 1980s, one written between the 1950s and 1970s, one up-tempo piece, and one ballad.
Winners are chosen for their caliber of artistic achievement by a panel of esteemed, discipline-specific artists through a blind adjudication process.
Artists are awarded in three categories: Finalist, Honorable Mention, and Merit.
This year, YoungArts award winners at all levels receive cash prizes between $100 and $10,000.
Falconer now has the opportunity to participate in National YoungArts Week in January, and will have access to professional and artistic development opportunities through the Foundation throughout his career.
After high school, Falconer said he plans to major in either jazz voice or music business; his career aspirations include being a musician whether performing or working behind the scenes in the music industry.
Click here to read more about the National YoungArts Foundation.