Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment
Past Winners
2018
Haley Peterson
Haley was born in the Chicagoland area and loves the city's culture. She says she dances because it fills her soul with purpose and a sense of self. Dance gives Haley hope and a belief that pure happiness and acceptance is possible. At Columbia College, she studies and performs so she can eventually become a professional and share her education with others. At Turning Pointe Dance Company, she has helped mentor young dancers and she has taken part in dance programs in Los Angeles, Orlando, and Branson. If she were to win the Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment Award, she says she would use it to help pay student loans, intensives, workshops, and audition material. Haley believes with the help of Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment she can reach her goals.
Haley was born in the Chicagoland area and loves the city's culture. She says she dances because it fills her soul with purpose and a sense of self. Dance gives Haley hope and a belief that pure happiness and acceptance is possible. At Columbia College, she studies and performs so she can eventually become a professional and share her education with others. At Turning Pointe Dance Company, she has helped mentor young dancers and she has taken part in dance programs in Los Angeles, Orlando, and Branson. If she were to win the Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment Award, she says she would use it to help pay student loans, intensives, workshops, and audition material. Haley believes with the help of Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment she can reach her goals.
Andrew Johnston
Andrew has been singing since he was four. To help support himself through school, Andrew started performing on the streets of Chicago, and attributes much of his success to the support of people walking by. Andrew has gone on to be featured as a singer on Windy City Live, and The Steve Harvey Show. In addition, he is currently in the final stages to make it onto America's Got Talent for the season beginning in May of this year. Just recently, he has received shout outs on social media by, Chicago's very own, Jennifer Hudson, and Grammy Award winner, Sam Smith. When asked how he felt about this whirlwind adventure, Andrew said, “When I stopped taking ‘no’ for an answer and started thinking of it as ‘not yet,’ doors began to open. The only no I take for an answer now is, NO LIMIT.”
Andrew has been singing since he was four. To help support himself through school, Andrew started performing on the streets of Chicago, and attributes much of his success to the support of people walking by. Andrew has gone on to be featured as a singer on Windy City Live, and The Steve Harvey Show. In addition, he is currently in the final stages to make it onto America's Got Talent for the season beginning in May of this year. Just recently, he has received shout outs on social media by, Chicago's very own, Jennifer Hudson, and Grammy Award winner, Sam Smith. When asked how he felt about this whirlwind adventure, Andrew said, “When I stopped taking ‘no’ for an answer and started thinking of it as ‘not yet,’ doors began to open. The only no I take for an answer now is, NO LIMIT.”
2017
Miriam-Rose earned her Bachelor of Science from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she studied ballet, performing arts, and business. Since graduation, she has performed and taught both ballet and violin throughout the Chicago area, including with Chicago Repertory Ballet, The British International School of Chicago, Down Home Guitars, The Beverly Arts Center, and The Joffrey Academy of Dance. Throughout her training and career, Miriam-Rose has been challenged by working to balance both of her passions: ballet and violin. There were times when one art form became so demanding that it was tempting to stop pursuing the other. However, she has persevered in both, and was inspired by her own struggles to compose and choreograph "Reflection", which she will be performing. The piece will debut in April as a part of a Chicago Dance Month collaboration called "Convergence". Any funds earned from the Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment competition will go towards reimbursement for instrument rentals, studio rentals, costumes, compensating artists, and other costs associated with the production. Miriam-Rose looks forward to her Chicago debut as a choreographer, and to sharing the Arts she loves with her audience. She would like to thank Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment for mentoring her and selecting her as a 2017 finalist.
Rebecca Brunner, from Mason, Michigan is an R&B/Pop singer/songwriter and piano player currently studying Music at Columbia College Chicago. Rebecca’s passion for music began when she was five years old. Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Tori Kelly, Alan Stone have inspired Rebecca to follow her dreams of becoming a professional music artist. She has performed at many Columbia College events, The House of Blues in Chicago, The Metro in Chicago, The Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, and many other venues and festivals in Illinois and Michigan. She is also a member of the Hip Hop/ Neo-Soul Band OBY. She enjoys sports, dancing and other adventurous activities. A few of her biggest accomplishments include performing background vocals on Late Night with Seth Meyers with recording artist Sir the Baptist. She was a part of America’s Got Talent in 2016 and in the commercial, and appearing in Chicago PD in fall 2016. At the age of five, Rebecca lost her dad from Cancer. Growing up with this deep pain inside, music was Rebecca’s escape and constant comfort. She began writing songs at age 10 and playing piano at age 8. The pain, joy and passion she carries, lay within the sound of her voice. This award will help with Rebecca’s Ep: Escape coming out this year. Funding is very difficult and sometimes a recording session is pushed back due to lack of funding. It will also help with funding for photo shoots, website, business cards and more. Rebecca is very passionate about her music and sharing her emotions through song and hoping that can change someone else’s life. She hopes to become a well-known artist telling her story through her music.
2016
Vonzell Byrd of Chicago, Illinois, is a professional touring dancer and an Advance Apprentice/Male Dance Captain of Move Me Soul Dance Company. He started dancing in his living room to Michael Jackson's hit song, “Thriller.” Following a high school basketball career, he began dancing with the After School Matters Program, “Move Me Soul” in 2011. He spent four years with them and choreographed three of their company pieces. He also trained with artist, Joel Hall. He has had additional training in contemporary jazz, ballet, modern, West and South African, and hip hop/break dancing. Vonzell was able to audition a piece he choreographed to the Dwayne Wade Chicago Got Talent and was the one dancer to make it to the finals. In 2014 he traveled to New York for a 2 week dance program at Columbia and auditioned for the FOX TV show “Empire.” He was hired as an extra. In 2015, he traveled to Jamaica, Kingston to peform at the performing arts school, Edna Manley. If he won this competition, he would donate half of the award to the After School Matters organization. Vonzell would use the other half to save money with the intention of furthering his education in the arts.
Josey Omokheyeke was born in Houston, Texas and is 22. She started performing at a young age singing, dancing, and putting on little concerts for her family and friends. Some of Josey's musical influences are India Arie, Whitney Houston, Adele, Pink, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder. Josey began to sing and perform in church plays, school choirs, and musicals at community theatres. She wrote her first song at 10 years of age and started playing guitar. Some of her credits include”13”, “Shreck the Musical”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, “Les Miserables”, and “White Christmas.” She has also performed at many of the area's open mics such as The Elbo Room, Reggies, and The Metro. Josey has performed and written with Shaun Mullins and sang for Bernie Sanders and Jesse Jackson for Operation Push. While at Columbia College she was a vocalist in four of the showcase ensembles, and has been selected to perform in the commencement choir. She's one of two students chosen to study abroad in Germany this fall. If she wins the competition, she will use the money to enhance her musical training and to find opportunities to perform after college.
2015
Sara Eichmeier: was born and raised in Valparaiso, IN. She began dancing at age 3, and has been performing with Indiana Ballet Theater for 12 years now. She has been casted in roles such as "Clara" from The Nutcracker and "Spring Fairy" from Cinderella. Sara has spent her summers attending The Joffrey Summer Camp and Ballet Chicago's Advanced Ballet Intensive. Upon graduating high school, currently a junior, she hopes to attend Butler University and major in dance. When Sara isn't dancing, she is an honor student Valparaiso High School and teaches ballet and tap at Indiana Ballet Theater.
Ashley Mondisa: aka Mondisa graduated from Columbia College Chicago in Spring 2014 with a Bachelors Degree is Musical Theatre Performance. Mondisa grew up singing in the Apostolic church starting at age 3. She competed in NAACP-ACTSO as a vocalist and dramatist between the ages of 14 and 18. She has been seen in 17 musicals and plays. Mondisa started an artistic production company, Mondisa Monde Productions, in 2012. Through her company she has produced and directed a musical and produced a dance flashmob in 2014. She also focuses on acting, directing, and producing for tv, film, and commerical. She is currently producing, directing, and starring for a short film called "Life After Death". Mondisa is currently in search for an agent for her acting career and hoping to get signed for her Gospel recording artist career. Meanwhile Mondisa is a nanny and writing two books based on love and spirituality. She would love to thank God, her parents, and her family and friends for all their support throughout her journey!
2014
Carolyn Carney (Vocal Finalist) is a soldier's child who was born in Panama City, Panama. Her mother, a native of Panama, started teaching her Panamanian ballet the moment she could walk. The Army has taken Carolyn throughout Europe and the United States east coast; she has lived in Chicago for the past 3 years. Currently, Carolyn dances professionally as bgirl Natural1 (with crews Awesome Style Konnection and Electric Funketeers) and street performs as "Golden Lady" in downtown Chicago. When not performing, Carolyn is raising money to record her music demo Aurra Alley, best described as an "alternative soul" record and practicing with the Electric Funketeers, a pop lock group she helped to develop. The dancer, performance artist, and singer/songwriter is excited to be a part of the Chicago dance scene.
Katie McGinnis (Dance Finalist) was born and raised in Wheaton, IL. She began dancing at Moves Dance Studio in North Aurora, IL, at the age of twelve. Two years later, she was invited to audition for Soleunique Dance Company, under the direction of Anthony Foster and Victoria Bunch. She excelled within the company, growing as an artist and technician, and went on to win awards and accolades at a regional and national level. Upon graduating high school, Katie continued her relationship with Soleunique as a company assistant and choreographer. She also began teaching at her home studio, Moves, at this time. While she fell in love with teaching and inspiring others, Katie made it a point to continue her own dance education. She has attended intensives with Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet and NYC's Capezio Peridance Center. She was a scholarship student at Visceral Dance Studio and is currently part of the work study program at Lou Conte Dance Studio. Katie also spent three seasons with NoMi Dance Company, formerly NoMi LaMad Dance, Inc. as a company dancer and soloist, where she had the pleasure of training under Laura Kariotis and Madeline Renwick, and dancing works by renowned choreographers such as Nick Pupillo, Autumn Eckman, and Paul Christiano. Katie is currently thriving on freelance work. She has done industrials for McDonalds and UPS, has danced back-up in the McDonalds Thanksgiving Day Parade for pop artist Sashé Taylor, and has been flown into Kansas City to dance behind musical sensation Sunni Stephens. Most recently, she danced featured roles in K.K Tyler Entertainment's one of a kind dance-drama, 'Triumphant Love'. Katie has also modeled on the Steve Harvey Show, live on air with WCUI's 'You and Me This Morning' and has done national print work for the dancewear brand MARCEA.
2013
Regan Fair field (Dance Finalist)
Dance teacher at Intrigue School of Dance and Performing Arts. Performing around the city with Framework Dance Chicago. Joining Giordano Dance Chicago as a member of Giordano II for their 2014-2015 season
“I believe that Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment helped me to get my foot in the door of the Chicago dance community. I met many influential people through the event, including my new employer, who was on last year's
judging panel. I was incredibly inspired by the work of my fellow contestants, I found Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment to be a wonderful experience!”
Dance teacher at Intrigue School of Dance and Performing Arts. Performing around the city with Framework Dance Chicago. Joining Giordano Dance Chicago as a member of Giordano II for their 2014-2015 season
“I believe that Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment helped me to get my foot in the door of the Chicago dance community. I met many influential people through the event, including my new employer, who was on last year's
judging panel. I was incredibly inspired by the work of my fellow contestants, I found Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment to be a wonderful experience!”
Nathon Cooper (Singer finalist)
Signs of Life at Victory Gardens
Lead vocalist for Holiday Fantasea at the Shedd Aquarium,
Ian in About Face's reading of When Last We Flew
In rehearsals to play Gus in Saturday Night Fever on
Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas
“With my prize package I was able to get Zoe McKenzie headshots, participate in classes at the School at Porchlight, have consistent voice lessons,
and create follow up postcards and business cards to further by career.”
Signs of Life at Victory Gardens
Lead vocalist for Holiday Fantasea at the Shedd Aquarium,
Ian in About Face's reading of When Last We Flew
In rehearsals to play Gus in Saturday Night Fever on
Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas
“With my prize package I was able to get Zoe McKenzie headshots, participate in classes at the School at Porchlight, have consistent voice lessons,
and create follow up postcards and business cards to further by career.”
2012
Ashleigh Ashton
• Written over 150 songs
• Featured in a national TMobile commercial
• Rialto Idol winner
• Finalist in the Colgate Country Showdown
• Winner of Chicago Independent Music Award for Best Pop Artist in Chicago, 2014
• Written over 150 songs
• Featured in a national TMobile commercial
• Rialto Idol winner
• Finalist in the Colgate Country Showdown
• Winner of Chicago Independent Music Award for Best Pop Artist in Chicago, 2014
- Performed at music festivals in New York, Florida, and California (returning this year to each)
- 8 year alumni of Piven Theatre's Company
- Member of Second City Publishing her first book on AMAZON about her experience of how she overcame being bullied in school Speaks at colleges and high schools giving tools to empower, inspire and reach for their dreams“Being the first ever winner of Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment Award In 2012 has opened many doors for me. I have worked with and met many people that I never would have had the opportunity to meet. I have been to L.A., N.Y., and Florida and have worked with many music professionals. As I am one of seven children in my family, the opportunities stemming from this event have made such a difference and I thank Lily and her staff for believing in me and for caring about me and keeping in touch with milestones in my career! Thank you Foundation of Artists Mentored In Entertainment!”
