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Michigan Youth Arts Festival Students Win National YoungArts Awards
in Music, Film and Writing
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BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (February 17, 2010) - Five Michigan Youth Arts Festival student artists have been honored by YoungArts, the national organization recognizing America's most talented high school seniors in the visual, literary and performing arts.
Honorable Mention Awards, which carry a $250 cash gift, were conferred upon Meekyoung Lee and Catrin Dowd in music, Austin Peters in cinematic arts, and Ben Kalajainen in voice.
A Merit Award, with a $100 gift, was bestowed upon Kiri Brasseur in writing.
All five students attended the 2009 Michigan Youth Arts Festival as juniors and were automatically entered into the YoungArts application process. Because of Michigan Youth Arts' rigorous adjudication processes, a special partnership between Michigan Youth Arts and YoungArts ensures that Festival artists are automatically bumped up to the National adjudication level at YoungArts - bypassing the preliminary adjudication process and ensuring they are adjudicated by the National panel.
"There is a wealth of talent and dedication to artistic excellence in Michigan's high school students and it is wonderful to see that recognized on the national stage," said Executive Director, Kim Dabbs.
About the Artists
Catrin Dowd, 2009 Michigan Youth Arts Festival Gala Soloist, is a senior at Ann Arbor's Community High School. She is bass section leader at Pioneer High School and principal bassist of the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Meekyoung Lee, 2009 Michigan Youth Arts Festival Gala Soloist, is a senior at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, and sits in 1st chair in the band/orchestra. She sat 1st chair in the Michigan Youth Band/Orchestra and is in the Detroit Civic Orchestra. She also won the SEMFA High School and Civic Concerto Competition.
Austin Peters attended the 2009 Michigan Youth Arts Festival both as a singer in the MSVMA All-State choir and as a filmmaker. His piece, Beyond the Mind's Eye, was screened in the Festival Welcoming Celebration in addition to the Film & Video Festival Showcase. Austin is a Senior at Gwinn High School in the Upper Peninsula.
Ben Kalajainen attended the 2009 Michigan Youth Arts Festival as a singer in the MSVMA All-State choir. Ben is a senior at Caledonia High School in Western Michigan.
Kiri Brasseur's poem, The Stuff of Candlewax, was published in the 2009 Michigan Youth Arts Festival Creative Writing book in addition to being singled out for publication in the Festival program. Kiri is a senior at Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy.
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About YoungArtsYoungArts is the core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA). It is the signature national organization that recognizes and supports America's most talented 17-18 year olds in the visual, literary and performing arts. YoungArts is the sole nominating agency for Presidential Scholars in the Arts. The foundation provides emerging artists with financial support and life changing experiences with internationally renowned artists. YoungArts alumni go on to become leading professionals in their fields. Alumni include Emmy nominated actress Vanessa Williams, three-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza, star of HBO's Entourage Adrian Grenier and Warner Brothers Recording Artist Josh Groban. For more information, visit www.youngarts.org. About Michigan Youth ArtsMichigan Youth Arts is a nonprofit, statewide association that serves as a collaborative of arts education organizations. Through advocacy, educator recognition, and leadership forums, Michigan Youth Arts promotes policy inclusive of a comprehensive arts curriculum. The Michigan Youth Arts Festival is an annual showcase that recognizes, supports and celebrates the artistic excellence of young artists in Michigan and which takes place each May in Kalamazoo. For more information, visit www.michiganyoutharts.org.
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