Kennedy Holmes Added To St. Louis Arts Awards Line-up

Kennedy Holmes, finalist of season 15 on NBC's The Voice, has been added to the entertainment line-up at the Arts and Education Council's St. Louis Arts Awards on January 21. She will perform alongside acclaimed jazz pianist Peter Martin, a 2012 Excellence in the Arts recipient. The performance is a nod to Lifetime Achievement in the Arts recipient Ken Page, with whom Holmes appeared in The Muny's "Aida" in 2016, and Champion of the Arts recipient Sue Greenberg, company manager at The Muny and executive director of St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts.

Holmes, 14, is the youngest ever finalist of NBC's The Voice and is the first St. Louis area singer to make it to the finale. She is a former Muny Kid, STAGES Triple Threat TEEN and student at STAGES Performing Arts Academy. A student at John Burroughs School, Holmes appeared in The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis's 2016 production of "A Christmas Carol" as Melinda Cratchit. In 2015, she shared The Muny stage with actor Bryan Batt in "Hairspray". Batt, widely known for his role as Salvatore Romano in AMC's "Mad Men", will also make a special appearance at the St. Louis Arts Awards.

In addition to Batt, Holmes joins three more acts that were previously announced for the January 21 event, including The Big Muddy Dance Company, 11-year-old classical pianist Jerry Chang and The City of Music All-Star Chorus.

The St. Louis Arts Awards celebrates individuals and organizations that keep art happening throughout the bi-state region with their contributions as artists, teachers, philanthropists and advocates. In addition to Page and Greenberg, the 2019 honorees are: Noémi and Michael Neidorff, Excellence in Philanthropy; Brent Benjamin, Saint Louis Art Museum, Excellence in the Arts; Chris Hansen, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, Arts Innovator; Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis, Arts Startup of the Year; and Amy Freet, Ferguson-Florissant School District, Art Educator of the Year. The 28th annual event is co-chaired by Pat Smith Thurman and artist Solomon Thurman, owners of 10th Street Gallery. Adrienne Davis, Washington University in St. Louis professor and vice provost, will emcee the event.

Tickets start at $300 and are on sale now at KeepArtHappening.org/2019ArtsAwards. Proceeds benefit the Arts and Education Council. The 2019 St. Louis Arts Awards is presented by Centene Charitable Foundation. Principal sponsors are Edward Jones and Emerson.