Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment
2019 Winners
Megan Burback (Singing Category)
Megan, hails from Manitowoc, Wisconsin and is a Pop/Country singer/songwriter and piano player. She recently graduated from Columbia College Chicago where she earned her Bachelor's in Music with a concentration in vocal performance and a minor in Music Business. Her musical influences include Amy Winehouse, Stevie Nicks, Sara Bareilles, and Carole King. Megan fell in love with music and performing at a young age she started taking lessons for dancing and singing at the age of 4. She sang in church and the school choir while also performing in many musical theater shows. Some credits include; Singing In the Rain, Jesus Christ superstar and Chorus Line. Since coming to Chicago, Megan has performed at many Columbia College events, The Elbo Room, Subterranean, and many other venues and festivals across the Chicago and Wisconsin area. A few of her bigger accomplishments include opening for the X-factor finalist Emblem3, placing in a statewide singing competition “Lake Shore Rising Stars”, and being selected by the Jamaica Field Service project which granted her the opportunity to bring and teach music to local children. Megan hopes to use this award to fund future opportunities that will help her further her music career. She would like to thank Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment for mentoring her and selecting her as a 2019 finalist.
Megan, hails from Manitowoc, Wisconsin and is a Pop/Country singer/songwriter and piano player. She recently graduated from Columbia College Chicago where she earned her Bachelor's in Music with a concentration in vocal performance and a minor in Music Business. Her musical influences include Amy Winehouse, Stevie Nicks, Sara Bareilles, and Carole King. Megan fell in love with music and performing at a young age she started taking lessons for dancing and singing at the age of 4. She sang in church and the school choir while also performing in many musical theater shows. Some credits include; Singing In the Rain, Jesus Christ superstar and Chorus Line. Since coming to Chicago, Megan has performed at many Columbia College events, The Elbo Room, Subterranean, and many other venues and festivals across the Chicago and Wisconsin area. A few of her bigger accomplishments include opening for the X-factor finalist Emblem3, placing in a statewide singing competition “Lake Shore Rising Stars”, and being selected by the Jamaica Field Service project which granted her the opportunity to bring and teach music to local children. Megan hopes to use this award to fund future opportunities that will help her further her music career. She would like to thank Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment for mentoring her and selecting her as a 2019 finalist.
Teh Ray (Dance Category)
Teh’Ray “HayWyre” Hale Jr. is a 20-year-old Hip-Hop/ Animation dancer from Chicago. Though almost entirely self-taught, he is classically trained, taking classes with 3 instructors from the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago’s Gallery 37 program. In the 6 plus years of his dance career, he has won many competitions as well as organized and hosted 4 successful dance events of his own. He has collaborated with brands such as T-Mobile, Nike, Samsung, and was sponsored by Journeys Shoe Store while competing in Atlanta. His impressive talents got him accepted into one of LA’s top performance arts colleges, “AMDA”, as well as becoming one of the 2018 Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment Gala finalists. HayWyre uses his unique musically based style of dance and his trained ear to bring music to life. His goal is to inspire other aspiring artists to fight above all odds and stigmas to fight for your dreams. He believes everyone should have an opportunity to reach for their goals, regardless of who they are, where they are from, or whom they love. Later in life, he wants to create a platform for upcoming dancers to train and give them opportunities to enter the word of professional dance.
Teh’Ray “HayWyre” Hale Jr. is a 20-year-old Hip-Hop/ Animation dancer from Chicago. Though almost entirely self-taught, he is classically trained, taking classes with 3 instructors from the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago’s Gallery 37 program. In the 6 plus years of his dance career, he has won many competitions as well as organized and hosted 4 successful dance events of his own. He has collaborated with brands such as T-Mobile, Nike, Samsung, and was sponsored by Journeys Shoe Store while competing in Atlanta. His impressive talents got him accepted into one of LA’s top performance arts colleges, “AMDA”, as well as becoming one of the 2018 Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment Gala finalists. HayWyre uses his unique musically based style of dance and his trained ear to bring music to life. His goal is to inspire other aspiring artists to fight above all odds and stigmas to fight for your dreams. He believes everyone should have an opportunity to reach for their goals, regardless of who they are, where they are from, or whom they love. Later in life, he wants to create a platform for upcoming dancers to train and give them opportunities to enter the word of professional dance.
Sarita Songbird (The first recipeint of the Tom Rusnak Award)
Someone once asked me how it feels to be a singer. “It feels like breathing, very natural. It calms me when I am chaotic, it soothes me when I am in pain, and makes me smile every day,” I responded. Music is life to me. From a very young age I felt a connection to music and knew I wanted to be a singer. Being the only musician in my family, I had no idea how I would become a vocalist but had this undeniable passion and could not ignore it. I worked very hard to graduate with honors from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal performance. My passion for singing has blessed me with the opportunity to share the stage with artists such as Jon Faddis, Koko Taylor, Darmon Meader, Claudio Rodito, Otis Taylor, Ivan Neville, and Charlie Sexton. My impetus for competing this year is to fund voice lessons so I can continue in my exploration of voice and self. My music boasts a rich narrative deeply rooted in love, feminism, and empowerment. Music makes me feel free and alive. I sing because I want to share that feeling with the world.
Someone once asked me how it feels to be a singer. “It feels like breathing, very natural. It calms me when I am chaotic, it soothes me when I am in pain, and makes me smile every day,” I responded. Music is life to me. From a very young age I felt a connection to music and knew I wanted to be a singer. Being the only musician in my family, I had no idea how I would become a vocalist but had this undeniable passion and could not ignore it. I worked very hard to graduate with honors from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal performance. My passion for singing has blessed me with the opportunity to share the stage with artists such as Jon Faddis, Koko Taylor, Darmon Meader, Claudio Rodito, Otis Taylor, Ivan Neville, and Charlie Sexton. My impetus for competing this year is to fund voice lessons so I can continue in my exploration of voice and self. My music boasts a rich narrative deeply rooted in love, feminism, and empowerment. Music makes me feel free and alive. I sing because I want to share that feeling with the world.
