It was two nights filled with dazzling sounds and audiences of music-lovers when Music Forward alum

Elliott participated in our emerging artist program in Dallas while a high school student at Booker T Washington HSPVA, whose notable alumni include Norah Jones, Erykah Badu, Roy Hargrove, and Edie Brickell. He was a standout talent at age 16 and has kept in touch with us over the years as he continued to hone his craft and pursue his passion for a career as an artist, currently in NYC.

Pairing Elliott’s soulful, folk-rock sounds with Kamasi’s boisterous jazz ensemble proved to be a true compliment of remarkable musicianship and beautiful emotion. I watched audiences become mesmerized by Elliott as he walked onto a stage that was set up for an 8-piece jazz ensemble and captivated their attention and hearts with his unique sound and undeniable gift. During a quiet song transition in his set, one audience member shouted from the back, “Thank you for this Elliott!” and the rest of the audience concurred with roaring applause.

The talent of young artists in our programs provides an exciting sensation towards the future of music. We have a beautiful array of diversity represented across years, genres, and personalities, and each emerging artist brings their unique story and influence from our communities nationwide. We are excited to see the talent that our artist development pathway presents this year and for the first time ever, later this year, we will be bringing Music Forward artists from all over the country together in Hollywood for a week-long intensive of industry learning, collaboration, and connectivity, There are sure to be stories of hope, beauty, and perseverance following this unprecedented time for all of us and we will continue to harness the power of music to drive us forward to a brighter future.

Written by: Nazanin Fatemian, Music Forward Director of Marketing

Since the series began last year, it has grown extensively and provided Music Forward alumni the chance to showcase their tremendous talent, build their confidence on stage, and grow their fanbase.

While all Music Forward artist alumni have experience performing, playing in front of intimate audiences at B Side is a unique opportunity. Music Forward musicians have the chance to really connect with their audience. One 2019 alumna, Jazzy Cadiente, describes her experience performing at B Side as “a chance to connect with whoever is in the audience, whether it be friends, family, or complete strangers.” She added, “I’m grateful for the opportunity that Music Forward has given me to perform at the B Side every chance I get. Being a senior in high school, I look forward to performing at Music Forward Mondays because it always brings my mood up and it’s a great way to spend a Monday night with great music and great food! Not only is it a great experience, but I get to perform with my friends and share the stage with them.”

The weekly program is also a chance for alumni to connect with one another. Since the shows often feature two or three performers, it is common for musicians to collaborate together and start new projects. For example, a 2016 alum connected with one of our 2019 students after they both performed as separate acts at a Music Forward Mondays show. The duo, Noah Stephens and Victoria Lynne, now regularly perform together. Victoria, class of 2019, shared that “Music Forward Mondays is the perfect opportunity to showcase my latest songs and my skills as an artist.” She described being a regular at the series as an “amazing experience” and that it has helped her expand her abilities as a performer. Victoria also said “Music Forward Foundation has allowed me to build not only my skills as a singer but also given me more confidence in my abilities as a performer. I have learned so much about the music industry from them, including music marketing, and stage presence. Music Forward opens the doors for you to learn to build yourself as an artist and teaches you many of the skills you need to become a successful independent artist.

Music Forward Mondays gives young artists a chance to do what they love: play music! In many cities and especially in Las Vegas, it can be difficult for artists under the age of 21 to play shows; but thanks to this series, every week there are new opportunities for our alumni to shine. Through this program, Music Forward makes it possible for young artists to get more experience in the music industry and turn their passions into professions.

Written by: Kaylen Fields, Music Forward Program Assistant

Kaylen is a driven marketing student newly relocated to Las Vegas from Memphis, Tennessee. Music is her biggest passion, and she believes that it is a uniquely powerful tool for change and empowerment. When she’s not at shows, she’s either studying at the closest coffee shop or chilling with her pomeranian.

Name: Victoria Elise, 2019 Los Angeles Alum

School: Herb Alpert Music Center at Los Angeles City College

Major: Music

Plans for the Upcoming Year: “I’m planning to release a new single in the fall, and hopefully getting to complete and release my first EP using my school resources (recording rooms, classmates, etc.) by springtime!  Since this is my first year of college, I really want to familiarize myself with the resources available to me and meeting new musicians to hopefully collaborate on new music.”

Back to School Groove: “Whipped Cream” – Ari Lennox

Name: Kayla Erhardt, 2016 Las Vegas Alum

School: Berklee College of Music

Major: Professional Music; Minor in Music Business

Plans for the Upcoming Year: “I hope to gain lifelong connections within the industry, and I hope to develop myself as an artist and truly find my voice amongst the world of musicians!”

Back to School Groove: “Fly Me to the Moon” – Bobby Womack version

Name: Mesha Harvey, 2019 US Concerts Scholarship Recipient

School: Georgia State University

Major: Music Management 

Plans for the Upcoming Year: “To cultivate a successful school year, I plan to use a weekly planner that will keep me on track and also take time out for my physical and mental health! I am striving for progress over perfection and the small efforts put in day in and day out will be the result of my big success! I plan to curate my first recurring event in Atlanta in 2020 that highlights and unifies local artists.”

Back to School Groove: “Summer Love” – ARZLEE ft. Xiamara Jennings

Name: Juliana Castrillon, 2019 Tiffany Green Scholarship Recipient

School: The College of Saint Rose

Major: Music Industry – Concentration on Voice

Plans for the Upcoming Year: “I expect this year to be full of major projects in production, songwriting and live performing (I plan to produce an album for an artist in my college and release a few singles for my personal band). I also want to stay involved in the areas of women empowerment in the music industry by introducing women into areas of the industry that are usually male-dominated. So, I guess I have big expectations!” 

Back to School Groove: “Mother’s Daughter” – Miley Cyrus

Name: Nico Ruggieri, 2019 Steven J. Finkel Scholarship Recipient

School: Berklee College of Music

Major: Music Business/Management

Plans for the Upcoming Year: “This year, I plan to serve as a Student Ambassador at auditions worldwide and work and intern at local concert venues before I graduate in May!”

Back to School Groove: “Those Nights” – Bastille

Name: Sarah Crandall of After the Millennials, 2019 Los Angeles Alum

School: Biola University

Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders 

Plans for the Upcoming Year: “I plan to continue in my studies to prepare myself to be a fully competent speech-language pathologist. I also intend to further my knowledge and technique of the stand up and electric bass guitar. Because BIOLA’S campus is less than an hour from home, I am able to practice and play with my siblings whenever After the Millennials has a show.”

Back to School Groove: “Pathetic” -Blink 182

Name: Seth Crandall from After the Millennials, 2019 Los Angeles Alum

School: Grand Canyon University

Major: 3D Animation; Minor in Piano Composition

Plans for the Upcoming Year: “This April I will be graduating from GCU, my current plans are to further develop my portfolio, land an internship for animation and continue playing keyboards with my siblings in After the Millennials.”

Back to School Groove: “Star Treatment” -Arctic Monkeys

Name: Damoyee Janai, 2016 Dallas Alum

School: Berklee College of Music

Major: Film Scoring

Plans for the Upcoming Year: “I’m really looking forward to getting more acclimated at Berklee and getting involved in as many collaboration and performance opportunities as I can. My album drops Friday, October 4, so I’m looking forward to that as well. I’ll be doing a few shows in between school to promote it.”

Back to School Groove: “Bad Kids to the Back” – Snarky Puppy

Name: Hunter Wainwright, 2018 New Orleans Alum

School: Loyola University New Orleans

Major: Popular and Commercial Music

Plans for the Upcoming Year: “My goal is to continue gaining experience as a mix and recording engineer while working on musicianship and knowledge in the music industry. For a while, I’ve been working on new music for my new band and I hope to share it soon this year.”

Back to School Groove: “Fear Inoculum” – Tool

When we asked her experience with Bringing Down the House, Damoyee recounted, “The information I learned about the music industry was priceless…the environment was very welcoming, so I gained a lot of confidence in my stage presence and my performances. I can see how artists who may not have access to these types of programs can be very nervous, and it may take longer to develop that comfort level.”

Upon completing Bringing Down the House in 2016 Damoyee said, “I became more outspoken and driven; the feeling I got performing on the legendary House of Blues stage for the first time was unforgettable… I left more focused and energized on a sustainable career.” She attributes Music Forward for giving her the confidence to experiment with her artistic creativity.

This growth and transformation were apparent in a recent triumph for the young artist.

Last month, Damoyee won a competition to have a piece of hers play as the opening “Rising of the Lights” chandelier song at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas. Damoyee shared with us that, “When I was first presented with the opportunity, it was to see if a student could compose a piece for the opening song… I composed two different pieces… one that I felt was best for the opening song and another that followed their requirements and criteria. I submitted both of them and they blindly chose two pieces without knowing who the composers were.” Both were Damoyee’s!

Damoyee has been accepted to Berklee College of Music and is elated at the chance to continue her music studies with a major in film scoring and minor in music production and sound engineering. If we’ve learned anything about Damoyee since we met her at age 13, it’s her drive and desire to succeed. Her ultimate goal is to inspire through music, and we know she will succeed – her future is as bright as the vibrant chandelier hanging in the Winspear Opera House.

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