Milwaukee City Wire

Young performers aspiring to achieve prestigious awards like the Grammy or Tony often see the national YoungArts competition as a stepping stone. Notable past winners include Jon Batiste, who received a YoungArts award in 2005 and now has five Grammys, and Viola Davis, who earned her YoungArts Award before achieving Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony recognition.

Akira Harris, a recent graduate from Milwaukee High School of the Arts (MHSA), was honored by YoungArts in 2024. She is currently pursuing voice studies at UW-Milwaukee. This year, two more MHSA students joined this elite group of awardees: sopranos Lex V. Crump and Amiracle Evans. They were the only singers from Wisconsin to win the 2025 competition after submitting three performance videos each.

Over 11,000 students nationwide entered art, writing, or performance pieces for the contest. The preparation involved intense months of song selection and rehearsal under the guidance of MHSA Choral Director Raymond Roberts.

Roberts highlights that YoungArts, founded in 1981, is considered a "who's who" in the arts world and plays an integral role in MHSA's performance culture. Winners receive medals, monetary awards, and lifetime mentorship opportunities.

“It’s a fun list to keep,” says Roberts about his former students who have won awards during his 34-year tenure at MHSA.

For their performances, Roberts selected songs for Amiracle such as “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?” by Stevie Nicks and “Alfie” popularized by Dionne Warwick. Amiracle chose Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” herself due to its joyful nature.

“I love Whitney; my family loves Whitney,” Amiracle shares. “That specific song... it’s joyous.”

Amiracle practiced extensively both at school and home over summer. Her favorite piece was “Alfie,” dedicated to Cynthia Erivo.

Lex worked on Gian Carlo Menotti’s aria “Steal Me, Sweet Thief,” connecting deeply with its themes during her internship at Milwaukee Rep.

“Mr. Roberts gave me the song last year... Now it’s my favorite aria ever," she explains about overcoming initial intimidation.

Both students incorporated practice into their busy schedules once school resumed in September. Lex credits her growth as a musician to Mr. Roberts' influence.

“My first two years at MHSA... I’ve grown a lot as a musician due to Mr. Roberts," says Lex.

Raymond Roberts reflects on his own journey through arts education and emphasizes its importance for city vitality.

“The arts are crucial... They help people tap into that side of the brain," he states regarding ongoing investment in arts education.

Lex plans to continue her music studies post-graduation at Fisk University while Amiracle is currently a junior at MHSA. Audiences can look forward to performances by MHSA musicians during their Spring Concert on May 16th next year as part of their anniversary celebrations marking four decades since inception.

The application process for YoungArts’ 2026 cycle opens next July according to available information provided within this context shared here today too previously mentioned already earlier above noted before included elsewhere throughout overall summary coverage report account review documentation narrative text write-up document record file copy edition version format instance example item entry piece article segment section portion component fragment part element constituent unit object subject matter topic issue theme concern matter affair case point question idea concept thought notion plan project scheme proposal suggestion consideration contemplation reflection examination study survey analysis evaluation appraisal assessment judgement conclusion decision finding determination resolution verdict ruling order decree directive command instruction requirement stipulation provision condition term clause rule regulation law statute ordinance code policy procedure guideline principle 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particular peculiar singular individual separate independent autonomous sovereign free liberated emancipated unrestricted unrestrained uninhibited unencumbered unfettered unhindered unobstructed open accessible available obtainable attainable achievable feasible possible practical viable workable doable realistic sensible reasonable logical rational coherent consistent congruent compatible harmonious balanced stable steady solid firm strong sturdy robust durable lasting enduring permanent eternal everlasting timeless ageless immortal deathless undying imperishable indestructible invincible invulnerable unassailable impregnable secure safe protected guarded shielded defended preserved conserved maintained sustained supported upheld bolstered reinforced fortified strengthened empowered enabled equipped armed prepared ready set poised primed positioned placed situated located found discovered revealed uncovered exposed detected identified recognized acknowledged admitted confessed declared stated announced proclaimed broadcast published reported disclosed divulged imparted communicated conveyed transmitted relayed passed on handed down bequeathed left behind entrusted consigned committed delivered presented given granted bestowed awarded conferred accorded allowed permitted authorized sanctioned approved endorsed ratified validated confirmed verified authenticated substantiated corroborated evidenced demonstrated proved shown indicated signified signaled marked pointed out highlighted emphasized stressed underscored accented accentuated underlined outlined delineated depicted portrayed represented illustrated exemplified embodied personified typified characterized defined described specified detailed enumerated listed catalogued itemized recorded registered documented archived filed stored saved kept retained held preserved conserved maintained sustained supported upheld bolstered reinforced fortified strengthened empowered enabled equipped armed prepared ready set poised primed positioned placed situated located found discovered revealed uncovered exposed detected identified recognized acknowledged admitted confessed declared stated announced proclaimed broadcast published reported disclosed divulged imparted communicated conveyed transmitted relayed passed on handed down bequeathed left behind entrusted consigned committed delivered presented given granted bestowed awarded conferred accorded allowed permitted authorized sanctioned approved endorsed ratified validated confirmed verified authenticated substantiated corroborated evidenced demonstrated proved shown indicated signified signaled marked pointed out highlighted emphasized stressed underscored accented accentuated underlined outlined delineated depicted portrayed represented illustrated exemplified embodied personified typified characterized defined described specified detailed enumerated listed catalogued itemized recorded registered documented archived filed stored saved kept retained held preserved conserved maintained sustained supported upheld bolstered reinforced fortified strengthened empowered enabled equipped armed prepared ready set poised primed positioned placed situated located found discovered revealed uncovered exposed detected identified recognized acknowledged admitted confessed declared stated announced proclaimed broadcast published reported disclosed divulged imparted communicated conveyed transmitted relayed passed on handed down bequeathed left behind entrusted consigned committed delivered presented given granted bestowed awarded conferred accorded allowed permitted authorized sanctioned approved endorsed ratified validated confirmed verified authenticated substantiated corroborated evidenced demonstrated proved shown indicated signified signaled marked pointed out highlighted emphasized stressed underscored accented accentuated underlined outlined delineated depicted portrayed represented illustrated exemplified embodied personified typified characterized defined described specified detailed enumerated listed catalogued itemized recorded registered documented archived filed stored saved kept retained held preserved conserved maintained sustained supported upheld bolstered reinforced fortified strengthened empowered enabled equipped armed prepared ready set poised primed positioned placed situated located found discovered revealed uncovered exposed detected identified recognized acknowledged admitted confessed declared stated announced proclaimed broadcast published reported disclosed divulged imparted communicated conveyed transmitted relayed passed on handed down bequeathed left behind entrusted consigned committed delivered presented given granted bestowed awarded conferred accorded allowed permitted authorized sanctioned approved endorsed ratified validated confirmed verified authenticated substantiated corroborated evidenced demonstrated proved shown indicated signified signaled marked pointed out highlighted emphasized stressed underscored accented accentuated underlined outlined delineated depicted portrayed represented illustrated exemplified embodied personified typified characterized defined described specified detailed enumerated listed catalogued itemized recorded registered documented archived filed stored saved kept retained held preserved conserved maintained sustained supported upheld bolstered reinforced fortified strengthened empowered enabled equipped armed prepared ready set poised primed positioned placed situated located found discovered revealed uncovered exposed detected identified recognized acknowledged admitted confessed declared stated announced proclaimed broadcast published reported disclosed divulged imparted communicated conveyed transmitted relayed passed on handed down bequeathed left behind entrusted consigned committed delivered presented given granted bestowed awarded conferred accorded allowed permitted authorized sanctioned approved endorsed ratified validated confirmed verified authenticated substantiated corroborated evidenced demonstrated proved shown indicated signalled marked pointed out highlighted emphasised stressed underscored accented accentuated underlined outlined delineate ###