Diana Wortham Theatre announces scholarship program for young emerging artists

The Diana Wortham Theatre in downtown Asheville, North Carolina announces the Y.E.S. Emerging Artists Fund, a new program to support young performers by providing scholarships for graduating high school seniors pursuing a career in the performing arts. A limited number of Emerging Artists Fund scholarships beginning at $1,000 each will be awarded to finalists during a special concert on March 19, 2016 featuring stephaniesĭd at the Diana Wortham Theatre. Participants may also have the opportunity to perform a segment of their work at this event.

“We are delighted to launch this new program,” says Rae Geoffrey, Associate Director of Diana Wortham Theatre. “The Emerging Artists Fund scholarship can open doors for the next generation of performing artists in our community.”

Any student graduating from high school in 2016 may apply for the Emerging Artists Fund scholarship. Applicants must currently be permanent residents of Buncombe County, must intend to pursue a career in the performing arts, and must receive a recommendation from a teacher, instructor, or mentor.

The Emerging Artists Fund is an outgrowth of the Y.E.S. (Youth Education Scholarship) Fund, which was created to make it possible for underserved students to attend Diana Wortham Theatre school programming. Scholarships, made possible by private donors, cover the cost of admission and are available to students on a free or reduced lunch program. The Y.E.S. program expanded in 2015 to cover artist workshops in local schools and the Emerging Artists Fund. Donations to the Y.E.S. Fund and its programs are accepted any time; more information at www.dwtheatre.com/Y-E-S-Fund.

To apply for an Emerging Artists Fund scholarship, students must complete the application, create an audition video, and obtain a recommendation from a teacher or mentor. Submit materials to Diana Wortham Theatre via email or mail by 5:00 p.m. January 25, 2016. Submission of an application does not guarantee an award.

Award winners should be present at the March 19, 2016 event with stephaniesĭd and any required rehearsals leading up to the performance. Best known for its outstanding mix of songs and irresistibly infectious live performances, stephaniesĭd is a pop-noir trio combining jazz, rock and pop to churn out wondrous and highly original tunes. In addition to their work with the band, pianist Chuck Lichtenberger and vocalist Stephanie Morgan and have contributed to the musical careers of hundreds of young artists. Chuck Lichtenberger has taught piano lessons to hundreds of children in the Asheville area since 1995. Many of his students have gone on to study music at renowned university music programs. Stephanie Morgan began her career in social work, helping emotionally traumatized kids through a wilderness therapy program, and later, counseling families through the process of fostering and adoption. She also teaches private lessons to students with an emphasis on helping them “find their voice.” The band will work with the Y.E.S. Emerging Artist award winners to integrate and showcase the students and their talent into the March 19^th performance.

Contact/Info: For more information on the Y.E.S. Emerging Artists Fund, visit www.dwtheatre.com/emerging-artists-fund or call the theatre at (828) 257-4530.