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Kollaboration DC’s 6th Annual Showcase Coming to Rockville on August 8th, 2015
The much-anticipated sixth annual edition of the Kollaboration DC Showcase & Competition is coming up soon on August 8th, 2015 and for the first time ever, taking place in Maryland at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre in Rockville (603 Edmonston Dr, Rockville, MD 20851). The evening will feature unique sets from rising musicians competing for a grand prize as well as special performances from locally grown and internationally renowned star Sam Ock.
Kollaboration is an international non-profit with the core mission of bring diversity to the arts, media and entertainment. With presence in 14 major cities across the US and Canada, the organization seeks to empower Asian Americans pursuing artistic paths and inspire the Asian‑Pacific American community with unique events and shows. Kollaboration DC, like its fellow grassroots chapters of Kollaboration, consists entirely of a volunteer staff with students and young professionals working to make a difference here in the DMV. The Kollaboration DC Showcases have be a chance for local, up and coming artists to unite with the APA community from the DC metro area and celebrate the arts in an exciting, high energy environment. This year’s show again promises to be a memorable and worthwhile experience for audiences of all ages!
Headlining for this year’s show is Sam Ock, hailing locally from Howard County, Maryland. Beginning his music career in 2011, he has established himself as a jazz-hip hop artist receiving worldwide recognition. His first LP, Simple Steps, was released in the U.S, Japan, and Korea and was an instant success. His second combined EP project, Stages, topped iTunes Hip Hop Charts in Japan landing a #1 spot on release date. Sam Ock’s sophomore album GREY achieved unparalleled worldwide success less than two months after its release on January 2, 2015. He has now become the first Korean-American artist to top both Japanese charts and perform on major Korean broadcasts – and yet operate primarily in the United States.
The competitive portion of the showcase, consisting of six finalists, will be live on-stage for the audience and a panel of local celebrity judges. The finalists were selected through a highly selective auditioning process beginning in March of this year, and range from artists preparing for their first big solo acts to experienced performers looking for a big break. However, there is no denying the immense talent present in this group: 2ParkZ (Singer Duo), Abby Rose (Singer/Musician), Alicia Rae (Singer-Songwriter), Audrey (Singer), Nan (Pop Pianist) and SantaJaca (Acoustic Duo). The winner of Kollaboration DC will move on the final round of Kollaboration STAR in Los Angeles and compete against champions from other cities for a grand prize of $10,000.
The winner of Kollaboration DC 2014, Paradise, will be front and center for a special performance to kick off the headline artist portion of the showcase. Local multi-talented artist Adriel Luis (a.k.a. DRZZL), is a poet, filmmaker, musician and spoken word artist and will be a guest performing as well as emceeing for this year’s show. As a curator at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, he explores new approaches to sharing art and culture, focusing on the shifting impact of technology in the Asian diaspora. He brings a background in music, performance art and digital media, including involvement in the band iLL-Literacy, whose efforts have been showcased at SxSW and hundreds of universities.
Tickets for the showcase, priced at $21 for General Admission, $25 for Premium tickets, $30 for VIP, are available now at www.bit.ly/KDC6TIX.
Join Kollaboration for a special evening of “Empowerment through Entertainment” this summer! For additional information about Kollaboration DC, please contact the Kollaboration DC directors at dc@kollaboration.org or visit www.KollaborationDC.org. Updates are also available via Twitter (@kollaborationdc) and on Facebook (Kollaboration DC).
