May 6, 2025
Philanthropists Sarah and Ernest Butler were honored with the 2025 Long Center Icon Award in a vibrant celebration that underscored their deep-rooted impact on Austin’s arts community, particularly the institution that bears their name, the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin.
The event, held at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, brought together a broad cross-section of Austin’s creative community, many of whom have direct ties to the Butler School of Music. The evening served not only as a tribute to the Butlers’ decades of generosity but also as a showcase of the immense talent their philanthropy has nurtured at the Butler School of Music.
Susan Thomas and Sandy Yamamoto talk to Sarah and Ernest Butler during the reception
The Butlers moved to Austin 41 years ago and founded the Austin Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic. Since then, they have become among the city’s most prolific arts patrons, providing transformational support to institutions including the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Austin, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Lyric Opera, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Austin Museum of Art, Austin Nature and Science Center, and most notably, the Butler School of Music which bears their name.
Tamar Sanikidze talks with talk to Sarah and Ernest Butler during the reception
The celebration began with a lively champagne reception, where guests were treated to impromptu performances by Ballet Folklórico de Austin dancers. The reception reflected the Butlers’ eclectic taste in music and dance, and featured appearances from close friends, colleagues, and many arts leaders who gathered to honor the couple’s legacy.
The formal award presentation took place on the Long Center’s main stage, elegantly transformed with theatrical lighting, catered fare, and live performances. The program opened with Austin Opera, which presented the Butler School of Music’s soprano Liliana Guerrero and pianist Gloria Kim Mokrenko.
Soprano Liliana Guerrero singing at the 2025 Icon Awards.
They were followed by a performance from the Austin Symphony Orchestra, where Ernest Butler serves as a board member and Chair of the Endowment Investment Advisory Committee. Violinist Patrice Calixte, the orchestra’s Associate Concertmaster and a Butler School alumnus, performed a piece in tribute to the Butlers’ support. The couple’s endowment of the Butler Pops Series and the Concertmaster Chair has played a crucial role in ensuring the orchestra’s long-term sustainability.
Violinist Patrice Calixte performs at the 2025 Icon Awards
The evening concluded on a festive note with a performance by Butler School of Music’s Mariachi Paredes de Tejastitlán, led by Greg Cavazos.
Mariachi Paredes de Tejastitlán performs at the 2025 Icon Awards
In a memorable moment, the musicians began at the back of the venue and made their way through the audience, stopping directly at the Butlers’ table to deliver an intimate serenade, offering the honored guests a front-row experience of one of their favorite musical genres.
Sarah and Ernest Butler applaud a performance by Mariachi Paredes de Tejastitlán
The 2025 Icon Award ceremony not only celebrated Sarah and Ernest Butler’s enduring legacy but also highlighted the vibrant, interconnected arts community they’ve helped to cultivate in Austin.
Left to Right: Tamar Sanikidze, Robert Duke, Farkhad Khudyev, Sandy Yamamoto, Jerry Junkin and Susan Thomas celebrate during the 2025 Icon Awards