Daviess County High School (DCHS) has been honored as a recipient of the inaugural Kentucky Performing Arts Bradley Awards, which officials said is a prestigious new program recognizing exceptional talent and innovation in arts education across the Commonwealth.
“The Bradley Awards, launched by Kentucky Performing Arts, aim to recognize schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering creativity, artistic excellence, and inclusivity in their performing arts programs,” a release about the program says. DCHS was chosen for its dedication to empowering students through music, theater, and dance.
“DCHS has a storied tradition of excellence in its musical theater program, and this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the passion and hard work of so many talented students and teachers who graced the stage before us,” said Jacob Hein, DCHS Musical Director.
As part of the Bradley Awards, three adjudicators will be sent to the DCHS production of The Secret Garden. Based on feedback from adjudicators, schools and students will be nominated in various categories (similar to the Tony Awards) for the award ceremony on June 1, 2025. The winners in the Best Actor/Actress in a Leading Role categories will receive an all-expenses paid trip to New York City to participate in the national Jimmy Awards.
“Through this evaluation process, my hope is our musical theater team will take this professional feedback, apply it, and grow beyond what we thought possible as a high school program,” Hein said. “It is an incredible opportunity.”
DCHS Principal Jeff Wethington added, “This is an incredible honor for Daviess County High School and a testament to the hard work and passion of our students, educators, and staff. The performing arts are a vital part of our school culture, and we are thrilled to receive this recognition for our commitment to excellence in arts education.” Daviess County High School’s production of The Secret Garden will be performed at 2 p.m. on February 23 and at 7 p.m. on February 27-28 and March 1. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door on the day of the performance.
