2012 Rising Star Finalists to Compete at 15th Annual Celebration of the Arts

The Howard County Arts Council, in its 31st year of service to the public of Howard County, will present the 15th Annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College in Columbia. Ken and Jaki Ulman will act at Honorary Chairs and Richard Story, Director of Marketing at JPB Enterprises will emcee the event.

The Celebration is a multi-faceted signature event, showcasing and promoting the arts and raising funds in support of the arts, artists and arts organizations in Howard County. Ten finalists will compete for a cash prize of $5,000 in the 2012 Rising Star Emerging Performing Artist Award Competition, a highlight of the gala event. In December, performing artists aged 18 to 35 years, currently or recently living, working, performing regularly, or receiving training in Howard County, auditioned before a panel of professionals in their discipline. Review criteria included artistic merit, demonstrated experience in the arts, and commitment to a career in the arts. An audience of artists, arts patrons, business and political representatives and community members will select the Rising Star by popular vote, and the winner will receive the award on stage that night at the Celebration!

The ten finalists performing at the Celebration are:
Mark Allen – Musical Theatre
Antonio Beverly – Modern Dance
Joe Duffey – Irish Step Dance
Luke Grooms – Opera
Rasa Mahmoudian – Violin
Samantha McEwen – Musical Theatre
Tim McKay – Percussion
Alexandra Rodrick – Opera
Eddie Sanders, III – Bassoon
Margot Seibert – Musical Theatre

Tickets to the 15th Annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County will be available online at www.hocoarts.org or by phone to the Howard County Arts Council, 410-313-2787.