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Welcome to the Joci awards
The Joci Awards, hosted by The Majestic Empire Foundation, is the nation’s premier talent-based scholarship and education program for high school students in the performing arts. From San Antonio to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the Joci Awards champions young talent, creating pathways to success both on stage and beyond.
In 2025, the Joci Awards expanded to the iconic Majestic Theatre, welcoming over 400 students, offering more than 500 hours of free workshops and masterclasses, and engaging over 3,000 students all year long. As a Regional Awards Program for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City, the Joci Awards connects local students to the national stage and life-changing opportunities.
Since its inception, the Joci Awards has awarded over $2.3 million in scholarships, empowering students from diverse backgrounds to pursue their dreams with confidence, resilience, and leadership. Through year-round free arts education, The Majestic Empire Foundation remains committed to inspiring and transforming lives across South Texas.
Advanced Learning Academy
Alamo Heights High School
Antonian College Prep High School
Boerne-Champion High School
Brakenridge High School
Bryan High School
Burbank High School
Byron P. Steele High School
Churchill High School
Clark High School
Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson High School
Connections Academy
Donna North High School
Douglas MacArthur High School
Earl Warren High School
East Central High School
Edgewood Fine Arts Academy
Edison High School
Harlan High School
Harlandale High School
Harlingen High School South
Harlingen Performing Arts Conservatory
Henry Ford Academy
Henry Ford Alameda School
Hondo
Incarnate Word High School
International School of the Arts
IUniversity Prep
J.B Alexander High School
James Madison High School
John Marshall High School
John Paul Stevens High School
Johnson High School
Judson High School
Kerrville Tivy High School
Keystone School
Lago Vista High School
Lanier High School
Louis D. Brandeis High School
MacArthur High School
Madison High School
McAllen High School
McCallum Fine Arts Academy
McCollum High School
Medina Valley High School
New Braunfels High School
North East School of the Arts
Porter High School
Providence High School
PSJA Early College High School
PSJA Southwest HS
PSJA Tri-City Theatre
Ronald Reagan High School
Roosevelt High School
Rouse High School
Saint Mary’s Hall
Sam Houston State University
San Angelo High School
San Antonio Christian High School
San Marcos High School
Sandra Day O’Connor High School
Seguin High School
Smithson Valley High School
South San High School
Sonia Sotomayor High School
Southwest High School
St. Dominic Savio
Stevens High School
Thomas Jefferson
TMI
Travis Early College H.S.
True North Academy
Vandegrift High School
Wagner High School
Warren High School
William Howard Taft High School
Winston Churchill High School
ZACH Performing Arts Academy
*Current school year
Jocelyn L. “Joci” Straus is Chair Emeritus of The Majestic Empire Foundation and the moving force behind the restoration of the Majestic and Charline McCombs Empire Theatres. Joci founded Las Casas and spearheaded the effort to raise more than $10 million for the restoration of both theatres. After founding Las Casas in 1988, Joci led fundraising and restoration efforts that allowed the Majestic renovation to be completed in just 11 months. Joci then worked with dear friend, Charline McCombs to raise the funds necessary to restore the Empire Theatre, which reopened in 1998 after being dark for 25 years.
The Majestic Empire Foundation’s Performing Arts Scholarship Program culminates in the Joci Awards in celebration of Joci’s career-long dedication as a formidable advocate for national funding of San Antonio’s art agencies and her voluntary giving, voluntary service and voluntary association for the benefit of the citizens of San Antonio and Texas.
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We invest in the past, present, and future of the performing arts by preserving historic theatres and nurturing young theater artists.
