Art & Culture
Young Texas Artists Welcomes Aurel Garza-Tucker as Director of Programs and Operations
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX – Young Texas Artists (YTA), a nonprofit arts organization best known for the Young Texas Artists Music Competition, has named Aurel Garza-Tucker its Director of Programs and Operations.
Before beginning her position with YTA on Nov. 1, 2022, Garza-Tucker served as the Assistant Director of Education and Production at the Austin Chamber Music Center (ACMC). She is also a bassoonist/contrabassoonist with a Master of Music in Bassoon Performance, a bassoon instructor and Vice President of the Austin Civic Orchestra’s Board of Directors.
“We are delighted to welcome Aurel to our team,” YTA President/CEO Susie Moore Pokorski said. “Her background in music education and music competitions is a tremendous asset, and she is already making a positive difference. Aurel will oversee YTA’s business and operational matters, freeing me to focus on the development and expansion of our local and statewide audiences, opportunities for our artists and YTA’s core mission. I’m so grateful to have Aurel’s help because we are growing, and as everyone knows, YTA is my passion and always will be.”
During her seven years with ACMC, Garza-Tucker was responsible for assisting the center with its national chamber music competition, organizing concerts, keeping the center’s educational and outreach programs running smoothly and designing marketing materials.
“My new role with YTA is a natural progression of that,” Garza-Tucker said. “My main life goal is to help people grow through music, and I am excited about doing that in a more impactful way with Young Texas Artists.”
Garza-Tucker is based in Austin, which reflects YTA’s growing presence throughout Texas, and she will be making regular visits to Montgomery County.
Her next trip to the area is set for Thursday, Jan. 26, when she will participate in a meet-and-greet during YTA’s annual lasagna supper for volunteers and members of YTA Circle, a program for YTA supporters.
The evening, to be hosted by Susie Moore Pokorski and YTA founder Jim Pokorski, will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Madeley Fine Art Gallery, 127 Simonton St. in Conroe, 77301. In addition to getting to know Garza-Tucker, guests will have a chance to see her present a short bassoon performance. Anyone interested in volunteering for YTA or learning more about the organization is welcome.
“This event will be YTA Circle’s first program since the outbreak of COVID-19,” Susie Moore Pokorski said. “Even though we were forced to make cancellations, YTA was extremely busy during the pandemic — and in the year that followed when we made our comeback. Attending the dinner is an excellent opportunity to see how much we’ve grown. From our perspective, we’re grateful to have a chance to thank our volunteers and YTA Circle members, who stuck with us during a very challenging time.”
To make reservations for the Jan. 26 lasagna supper, call 936-756-7017, or email ytasusiep@gmail.com.
To learn more about YTA, including its upcoming classical music competition and Bach, Beethoven & Barbecue gala, visit ytamc.com or call 936-756-7017.
Young Texas Artists, founded in 1983, is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit presenter of music competitions and events, career development programs and cultural enrichment outreach. The nationally acclaimed Young Texas Artists Music Competition and the YTA Career Development Program provide professional guidance, mentoring and highly sought performance experience. An Official Music Competition of the State of Texas, it is one of the few competitions in the nation with four performance divisions: Voice; Piano; Strings; and Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar. The YTA contest is open to classical artists, ages 18-30 (20-32 for Voice), who are Texas residents or affiliated with a Texas music school. Over the years, Young Texas Artists has helped produce many distinguished professionals who have gone on to join orchestras, opera companies, universities and music schools around the world. youngtexasartists.org.
Affiliations: Young Texas Artists is a member of the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance, the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Cultural Trust, and Texans for the Arts.
Young Texas Artists, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded and headquartered in Conroe, Montgomery County.
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