January 27, 2010, Pittsburgh, PA - Gateway to the Arts is excited to promote its annual Gateway to the Arts Promising Performer Award Honoring Rob Marshall. Established in 2008 in honor of director and choreographer Rob Marshall, a graduate of Allderdice High School, the Promising Performer Award aims to encourage talented Pittsburgh Public School students to pursue training in the performing arts. It is awarded to a Pittsburgh Public School sophomore whose music, language arts or drama teacher identifies them as an outstanding music, theater or musical theater student.

The winner of the Promising Performer Award receives two years of classes at the Civic Light Opera Academy for music, dance and theater classes and coaching, and a full scholarship (including text books and materials) to Carnegie Mellon University’s Pre-College Program in Drama or Music in 2011, which immerses students in their art form through classes taught by professionals in the field. Last year’s winner was Grace Clower, a student at Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School.

The award is open by teacher nomination to Pittsburgh Public School sophomores who can audition in musical theater, theatre and instrumental or vocal music. Following their nomination by a teacher, students must submit a personal statement essay, two letters of reference, have at least a 3.5 GPA, and provide transcripts.

The deadline for this year’s application is April 15, 2010.

Selected students who have applied their sophomore year will audition in May of 2010 for a panel consisting of Charles Gray (retired Executive Director of the Pittsburgh CLO), Keisha Lalama-White (Director of the CLO Academy), Don Wadsworth (Director, Pre-College Drama), Noel Zahler (Head of Music, CMU), and/or Steven Neely (Director, Pre-College Music) (or their assignees).

More information on Gateway to the Arts can be found at gatewaytothearts.org or by contacting Kellee Van Aken ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) at 412.362.6982 ext. 20.

  Gateway to the Arts Promising Performer Application