Metropolitan School of the Arts’ Names 2019 Graduates

Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria, Va. recently named its 2019 graduates from its Academy and studio. One MSA graduate, Beth Mann of Springfield, Va., earned a scholarship to the Richmond Ballet Trainee Program in Richmond, Va. Other graduates include: Anna Asesor of Alexandria, Va. to attend Virginia Commonwealth University; Sarah Carnell of Clifton, Va. will attend William and Mary University; Cassie Chamblee of Springfield, Va. will attend University of South Carolina; Amy Cooper of Woodbridge, Va. to attend Virginia Commonwealth University; Emma Feddo of Alexandria, Va. to attend University of Utah; Erin Folger of Springfield, Va. will attend University of Arizona; Emily Gross of Burke, Va. to attend George Mason University; Sofi Harai of Alexandria, Va. will attend Berklee College of Music in Boston; Samantha Haughton of Alexandria, Va. to attend James Madison University; Kyra McCall of Stafford, Va. will attend Pennsylvania State University; Justin Perez of Alexandria, Va. to attend James Madison University; Brian Selcik of Alexandria, Va. will attend Roosevelt University; Ashtyn Spring of Springfield, Va. will attend Liberty University; Sylvia Taylor of Springfield, Va. will attend Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music; Elpida Voryas of Alexandria, Va. will be a trainee at the European School of Ballet in Amsterdam; Jason Voryas of Alexandria, Va. will attend Northern Virginia community College; Logan Waddell of Lorton, Va. to attend University of Mary Washington; and Mariah White of Lorton, Va. to attend James Madison University. For more information, go to www.metropolitanarts.org.

Mann is only one of 20 successful candidates to earn the nationally recognized Richmond Ballet trainee program scholarship. The program offers talented, advanced students a transitional experience that bridges the gap between the academic ballet setting and the world of professional dance. The Richmond Ballet Trainee Program is one of the few in the U.S. that enables aspiring dancers to pursue formal dance training and gain valuable performance experience with a professional company.

Mann also took the Solo Seal exam at the Michael J. Fox Theater in Vancouver. The Solo Seal Exam is a series of solo performances on stage in front of an audience and two judges. With more than 80 candidates worldwide only about 20 Solo Seal Awards are presented.

Other graduate students that earned scholarships include: Sylvia Taylor--Merit Scholarship; Brian Selcik--Talent Scholarship; Zsofia Harai--Berklee World Tour Scholarship and 2019 Suzanne McGee Memorial Scholarship; Amy Cooper--Merit Scholarship; and Virginia Commonwealth University-Virginia Scholarship; and Anna Asesor earned Christopher Newport University-Honors Scholarship, Louisiana State University--Academic Scholars Non-Resident Award; Tiger Nation Scholarship President's Student Aid Program; and Trinity Washington University-Trinity Leadership Scholarship.

The Academy at Metropolitan School of the Arts is a college preparatory performing arts program for emerging young artists, grades 7 to 12, who are dedicated to high-caliber academics and pre-professional performing arts education. Their cross-curricular approach to arts training fills each young artist’s toolbox with the dance, music and acting skills necessary to be a triple threat in the arts world. MSA’s approach to education is designed to develop independent, self-motivated, and skilled learners.