The 28th annual Achievement in the Arts Award Ceremony 

For more than a quarter century, the Achievement in the Arts Awards have celebrated the extraordinary talent, dedication and promise of young artists throughout Westmoreland County. Established in 1999 by Judge Debra Pezze and Judge Richard McCormick, the program continues today under Westmoreland Cultural Trust and The Academy at WCT, carrying forward its original mission while creating meaningful new pathways for the region’s next generation of artists.

The 28th Annual Achievement in the Arts Awards marked an exciting new chapter for the program. In 2026, 64 graduating seniors representing 16 area high schools were nominated by their educators for excellence in Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Theatre Performance, Dance Performance, Technical Theatre and Visual Arts. The celebration also expanded beyond student recognition to honor the educators whose mentorship makes exceptional arts education possible, including the presentation of the Arts Educator of the Year Award.

Most significantly, the 2026 program transformed Achievement in the Arts from an awards ceremony into a pathway to what comes next. Through new partnerships with Seton Hill University, RWS Global, Broadway Dreams Foundation and The Academy at Westmoreland Cultural Trust, more than $100,000 in scholarships, professional training and educational opportunities were made available to participating students. Opportunities included six renewable Seton Hill University Visual and Performing Arts Scholarships, the RWS Global Esther M. Kocevar Scholarship, Broadway Dreams summer intensives and Technical Theatre Institute experiences, as well as full scholarships to The Academy’s Broadway to the Palace Artist Retreat. These partnerships connected students not only with financial support, but with universities, professional artists and internationally recognized arts organizations that can help advance their education and careers.

Each spring, the Achievement in the Arts Awards bring students, families, educators and community leaders together at the historic Palace Theatre to celebrate what young artists have already accomplished while investing in where their artistry may take them next. Through recognition, scholarship, professional development and expanded access to opportunity, Westmoreland Cultural Trust is proud to ensure that Achievement in the Arts is more than an award. It is an investment in the future of the arts in our region.