Two UNCSA High School students recognized by the 2026 YoungArts National Competition

Two high school students at UNCSA have placed in various categories of the 2026 YoungArts National Competition, which recognizes the nation’s most accomplished emerging artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts. Winners are selected through a rigorous adjudication process and receive financial awards, mentorship and access to a national network of distinguished artists.

Applicants who receive distinction are invited to participate in National YoungArts Week (Jan. 4-11, 2026, in Miami, Florida) where they’ll work with guest artists like choreographer and UNCSA School of Dance alumna Camille A. Brown, who herself was a YoungArts award winner in 1997.

This year’s winners were chosen from thousands of applicants across 10 artistic disciplines, including classical music, dance, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing. “We are proud to see our high school students recognized by YoungArts again this year,” said Martin Ferrell, dean of the High School Academic Program. “Their accomplishments reflect an impressive level of discipline, imagination and artistic maturity, and they benefit from the dedicated faculty who encourage them every day. Audrey and Natalie embody the strength of our conservatory model, and we look forward to seeing how they continue to grow as artists and people."

Audrey Song, a high school junior from Cary, is a winner in the visual arts category. She studies in the High School Visual Arts Program of the School of Design and Production with Will Taylor.

Natalie Winstead, a high school junior of Raleigh, is a winner with distinction in the theater/musical category. She studies in the High School Drama Program with faculty member and alumna Maggie Anderson.

About YoungArts

YoungArts' signature program is an application-based competition for emerging artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12. Selected through a rigorous adjudication process conducted by an independent panel of highly accomplished artists, YoungArts winners receive financial awards and creative and professional development experiences working with renowned guest artists. Joining a distinguished alumni community, YoungArts award winners form a rich network of peers that provides support and opportunities throughout artists' careers.

In addition to Camille A. Brown, YoungArts alumni who have gone on to become leaders in their fields include dancer Desmond Richardson, speaker at the UNCSA 2019 high school commencement; actresses Viola Davis, Anna Gunn, Zuzanna Szadkowski and Kerry Washington; Broadway stars Raúl Esparza, Billy Porter, Andrew Rannells and Tony Yazbeck; recording artists Josh Groban, Judith Hill and Chris Young; Metropolitan Opera star Eric Owens; musicians Terence Blanchard, Gerald Clayton and Jennifer Koh; visual artists Daniel Arsham and Hernan Bas; internationally acclaimed multimedia artist Doug Aitken; television writer, producer, and director Jenji Kohan; New York Times best-selling author Sam Lipsyte; and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Doug Blush.

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February 25, 2026