MAPS / Courtesy Photo
After a months-long statewide search, Eagle County-based nonprofit MAPS has announced the winning entries to participate in its first Vail Youth Music Showcase. Saturday August 13. Fourteen young musicians from across Colorado will participate in the day-long event that features mentorship workshops led by industry professionals and culminates in a free performance from 3:30-6 p.m. at Solaris Plaza in Vail.
With support from the City of Vail, the Vail Youth Music Showcase serves as the launch pad for a newly created branch of MAPS, the MAPS Institute of Modern Music, which serves the next generation of artists seeking a career in the music industry. The Institute will offer music lessons, instrument commissions, mentorship and performance opportunities throughout the year, through the MAPS roster of pop and rock artists.
“We’re very impressed with the talent we’ve seen on the Showcase submission videos,” said MAPS Creative Director Scott Rednor. “These kids are already showing great promise, and we look forward to sharing industry know-how to help each of them advance their artistic talent.”
With requests arriving from across the state, the following young musicians were invited to participate: Anna Del Ponte (Denver); Brennan Kammerer (Denver); Declan Scully (Denver); Dylan Frechette (Denver); Isaac Silvers (Avon); Izzy Thomas (Eagle); Jake Beau (Eagle); Jake Miltenberger (Denver); KJ Evans (Denver); Rennick Williams (Eagle-Vail); and Trees Don’t Move (Eagle) featuring Christian Dent, Cooper Filmore, Jax Leija and Micah Robinson.
In addition to attending the Youth Music Showcase, KJ Evans was chosen as the first Institute artist to receive a recording session at MAPS Studio in Vail. Evans’ song will be mixed, mastered and released on the Go MAPS Music label by the end of this year.
The 2022 Vail Youth Music Showcase will feature the young artists performing a song of their choice, as well as a song performed with the professional group consisting of long-time recording and performing artists from a variety of backgrounds. The names of the group and the mentor will be announced soon.
For more information about MAPS, the MAPS Institute of Modern Music, and the Go MAPS Music label, visit GoMAPSMusic.org.
