Icon Awards

Sarah & Ernest Butler

Sarah and Ernest Butler moved to Austin 41 years ago, where they founded the Austin Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic and established deep community roots. Both Baylor University graduates, Ernest earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. Their belief in public education is reflected in their children’s education at Austin ISD and The University of Texas at Austin. Dedicated supporters of the arts, the Butlers have generously contributed to institutions including: Butler School of Music, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Austin, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Lyric Opera, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Austin Museum of Art, and Austin Nature and Science Center. Sarah serves as Board Chair of Ballet Austin and President of the Ballet Austin Foundation, overseeing the Butler Dance Education Center—the largest ballet academy in the U.S. She is also on the Blanton Museum of Art Advisory Committee. Ernest is a Board Member of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and Chair of the Endowment Investment Advisory Committee. The Butlers endowed the Butler Pops Series and the Concertmaster Chair, securing the orchestra’s future. Their lasting impact is recognized through the Butler School of Music at UT Austin, named in their honor, and the Butler Opera Center, which trains young artists and enriches Austin’s opera scene. Sarah and Ernest Butler’s dedication to education, music, and the arts continues to shape Austin’s cultural landscape for future generations.