1. art and entertainment

2015 RISING STAR
$5,000 PERFORMING ARTIST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Howard County Arts Council established the Rising Star
Award in 2003 to provide opportunities for emerging performing
artists with roots in Howard County to further develop and
advance their art and careers.
Using the review process and criteria outlined in this application,
a maximum of ten performing artists and/or small ensembles
working in a variety of disciplines will be selected as award
finalists. Each finalist will perform one piece at the Arts Council’s
annual benefit gala, Celebration of the Arts in Howard County.
The event audience – artists, arts patrons, business and political
leaders, and other community members – determine the recipient of this year’s $5,000 Rising Star Performing Artist Award.
Additional awards may be given based on the amount of
funding raised from the event. Votes will be tallied during the
event and the award winner will be announced on stage!
Finalists will be given the opportunity to sit for a complimentary professional
commercial photography session with nationally recognized photographer and
blogger David Hobby (www.strobist.com).
Photo: James Ferry
2014 Rising Star Award recipient:
Steven Eddy, Classical Voice
APPLICATION CALENDAR
October 1, 2014
Early bird deadline (no fee)
November 1, 2014
Deadline to submit application
($10 fee)
November 23, 2014 Auditions at the Howard County
Center for the Arts in Ellicott City
January 5, 2015
Finalists are notified
March 28, 2015
Finalists perform at the Celebration
of the Arts gala, 6–10 pm, at HCC’s
Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual
and Performing Arts Center in
Columbia, MD; award recipients are
selected and announced.
Howard County Arts Council
8510 High Ridge Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-313-ARTS (2787)
MD Relay: 711
Fax: 410-313-2790
[email protected]
www.hocoarts.org
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5 PM
LARGE PRINT COPIES:
410-313-2787
RISING STAR
$5,000 PERFORMING ARTIST
AWARD APPLICATION
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Applications must include:
 Individual performer: Name, address, phone # and email of individual applying.
 Ensemble: Name, address, phone # and email of main contact; Name of individuals in the ensemble applying; name of
ensemble.
 For eligibility purposes only, list the name(s) and date(s) of birth for performer(s)(see Eligibility section for more information).
 The primary discipline and genre performed. Voice: Classical or Musical Theatre; Instrumental Music; Dance; Theatre/
Monologue; Other.
 Supporting information including:
 A brief (maximum 100 words) individual/group bio including your connection to Howard County, involvement in the
performing arts, future artistic goals, and how this award will assist you in your career. If selected as a finalist, the bio
submitted will be included in the Celebration event program and may be edited for length.
 A current performing resume or CV (no more than two pages).
 An 8X10 hard copy of a current high resolution 300 DPI individual head shot or group shot to be used for PR purposes.
Your face(s) should be the only focus of the photograph. Image will be printed in event program if selected as a finalist.
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If applying after October 1: include your $10 non-refundable application fee made payable to the Howard County Arts
Council.
All application materials must be postmarked or hand-delivered by 4 PM November 1.
Individuals and ensembles are expected to audition in the selected discipline with the members listed in the application.
Your audition piece must not exceed 3 minutes. If chosen as a finalist, you are expected to perform the auditioned piece with
the same group members at the Celebration gala. When choosing your material, please keep in mind the Rising Star Award is
determined by popular vote.
Only complete, typewritten applications will be considered. Incomplete, conditional, or otherwise unclear applications may be
rejected without evaluation. Please use paperclips to attach materials; do not staple. Do not send materials other than those
required. Application materials will not be returned.
Previous $5,000 award winners are not eligible to apply.
Howard County Arts Council reserves the right to extend the deadline and/or re-open the application process if an insufficient
quantity or quality of applications are received. Decisions of the Review Panels, Performance Committee, Howard County Arts
Council, and Celebration of the Arts audience are final. Howard County Arts Council is not obligated to provide a
re-count of audience votes or explanation of any decisions. Submission of an application constitutes an understanding and agreement of the conditions set forth in these guidelines.
Photos: David Hobby
APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR DELIVERED TO HCAC
NO LATER THAN 4 PM ON NOVEMBER 1, 2014
Howard County Arts Council
8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043
P: 410-313-2787, F: 410-313-2790, MD Relay: 711
www.hocoarts.org
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must:
 Be an individual performing artist or ensemble (maximum: four members) working in any performance discipline.*
Individuals: Have currently or previously lived, worked, performed regularly, or received training in Howard County.
Individual must be between the ages of 18 and 35 at both the time of application and the final event on March 28, 2015.
Duets: Have at least one group member who has currently or previously lived, worked, performed regularly, or received
training in Howard County. All group members must be between the ages of 18 and 35 at both the time of application and
the final event on March 28, 2015.
Trios/Quartets: Have at least two group members who have currently or previously lived, worked, performed regularly, or
received training in Howard County. All group members must be between the ages of 18 and 35 at both the time of
application and the final event on March 28, 2015.
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Be available for auditions on November 23 in Howard County (or provide an audition VIDEO or DVD – audio recordings will not
be accepted) and be able to perform in Columbia, MD on March 28 (only finalists will participate in the Celebration gala).
Submit a $10 non-refundable application fee. Fee waived for early applications postmarked on or before Oct. 1.
Agree that if selected to receive the award, they will provide the Arts Council with a brief one-year follow-up statement
regarding the impact of the award.
*For purposes of the award, an individual performing artist is defined as one who can stand alone in an onstage performance with no more than one accompanist or
partner; performing groups are defined as: a duet or trio who can stand alone in an onstage performance with no more than one additional accompanist; quartets
who can stand alone in an onstage performance with no additional accompaniment. The individual or group applying must be clearly featured for more than 50% of
the performance time.
REVIEW PROCESS
There will be a four-step review process:
1. The Celebration Performance Committee will review and evaluate applications, and select applicants to audition for slots as
finalists.
2. Discipline Review Panels, made up of professionals working in the discipline in which the applicant is applying, will audition
selected applicants, rank them according to the Review Criteria (listed below), and recommend finalists.
3. The Celebration Performance Committee will use the recommendations of the Discipline Review Panels to select up to ten finalists
to perform at the Celebration of the Arts.
4. The Celebration of the Arts audience will select, by popular vote, an award recipient based on individual performances at the
event.
REVIEW CRITERIA
Audience Appeal:
 Stage Presence and Charisma
 Will material resonate with Celebration audiences
Photos: David Hobby
Artistic Excellence:
 Artistic Expression
 Choice of Material
 Technical Ability
 Presentation (preparation and polish)
NOTIFICATION
Applicants will be notified in writing by January 5, 2015 as to the disposition of their application.
DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
A single award check will be sent to the winning finalist approximately two to four weeks after the Celebration.
DEADLINE
Submit your application, requested support materials, and, if applicable, $10 application fee (payable to Howard County Arts Council)
postmarked or hand delivered by 4 PM November 1st. No fax or email submissions will be accepted.
APPLICATIONS AND GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE AT
WWW.HOCOARTS.ORG