2026 Young Artist Awards
In 2019 and 2020, El Dorado County lost four beloved members of its community: Richard H. Bush, Lanny Langston, Joey Cattone, and Jane Van Camp. In their memory, and as a way of celebrating their impact and their legacies, Arts and Culture El Dorado created the Young Artist Awards, which honor juniors and seniors at El Dorado County high schools in four categories: Music, Theatre, Visual Art, and Nature-inspired Art. The recipients of these awards also receive $500. A reception for the families, students, and nominating teachers was held at Arts and Culture El Dorado’s Switchboard Gallery on Thursday, April 30.
Four outstanding high school seniors received the 2026 Young Artist Awards at a reception at Arts and Culture El Dorado’s Switchboard Gallery at 525 Main Street in Placerville.
The event, held on Thursday, April 30, also honored the memory of four bright lights in the El Dorado County community who greatly supported the arts. Their lives represent the talent, thoughtfulness, generosity, and commitment to the community that makes El Dorado County a special place to live. The Young Artist Awards were presented in four categories: the Richard H. Bush Award for Music; the Joey Cattone Award for Visual Art; the Lanny Langston Award for Theater; and the Jane Van Camp Award for Nature-Inspired Art. Awardees received a $500 honorarium.
Oak Ridge senior Joey Hoff, selected by Paul, Maggie, and Leslie Bush, received the 2025 Richard H. Bush Award for Music. Joey, nominated by Nathan Tilley comments, “Joey’s commitment to his craft is relentless. Music is not simply a hobby or extracurricular pursuit for him, it's a vibrant language through which he communicates with the world. He studies it, refines it, and lives it, giving life to a roaring fire inside of him.”
Ponderosa senior Sophia Veriato, selected by Dan Cattone, received the 2025 Joey Cattone Award for Visual Art. Sophia, was nominated by her teacher Jennifer Schrock. “I have been consistently impressed by Sophia’s creativity, motivation, and technical skills in art. She is an intuitive and talented student who brings sensitivity and strong artistic intention to each of her compositions. Over the past year in particular, I have witnessed Sophia’s commitment and leadership qualities flourish. Her body of work reflects original ideas, and she is not afraid to take creative risks or tackle meaningful, thought-provoking content while exploring new techniques,” said Jennifer Schrock.
El Dorado High School senior Nevaeh Andrews received the 2025 Lanny Langston Award for Theater. Nevaeh, nominated by Paul Tomei, is a leader at her school. “Beyond her performance abilities, Nevaeh is a true leader within our program. As Drama Club President, she creates an inclusive environment where new students feel welcomed and supported, and she consistently leads by example with kindness, responsibility, and enthusiasm. Her passion for theatre extends beyond the stage. She recently earned a Silver Medal at the Lenaea Festival for student directing and was awarded a full scholarship to a prestigious acting camp in Alaska this summer,” said Paul Tomei.
Ponderosa High School senior Kayla Fowler received the 2025 Jane Van Camp Award for Nature-inspired Art. Sofia, nominated by Juliana Yorba, is a gifted visual artist and a standout student. “Kayla creates extremely detailed nature inspired art. She created a pencil holder inspired by the man-made reefs used to help support dying coral. She wanted to create art that shows the influence of humans on nature,” said Yorba.
An annual program, the Young Artist Awards will continue to celebrate the great promise of younger generations and honor the lives and legacies of those bright lights who came before them.
