High School Performer Receives National YoungArts Award in Theater

A senior from a Carlsbad school has been honored for his theater talent by the National Foundation for Advancement of the Artists.

Pacific Ridge School‘s David Landis received a 2025 YoungArts award in the theater/musical category from the Miami-based organization.

Selected from nearly 11,000 applicants across 10 disciplines from all over the country, Landis was recognized for his talent, dedication and artistry. Each YoungArts Winner receives an award of $250 and joins a community of alumni noted for their contributions to the arts.

He expressed his gratitude “to the YoungArts judges who saw my potential,” adding that the win has “solidified my confidence as a performer and has shown me that my artistry can have an impact.”

Landis began showing interest in the arts at age seven, and has focused on storytelling through music and spoken word. At Pacific Ridge, he has won lead roles in productions such as Chicago and Urinetown.

“Theatre has, and will continue to play, a fundamental role in my life,” he shared. “It’s about finding the nuances of a character and creating a dialogue that connects, inspires and mirrors our society while shedding a new light. As a performing artist, my hope is that the choices I make when portraying a character will allow audiences to delve deeply into a story, creating a new understanding through the prism of their own life experience.”

The YoungArts program also awards young artists in classical music, dance, design, film, jazz, photography, visual arts, voice and writing.

Founded in 2007, Pacific Ridge School serves over 660 students as an independent, non-profit, college preparatory school for grades six through 12.