PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2026
Contact: Miles Warren
artcenterdirector@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council HoCo Open 2026 Now On View at the Capitoline Center
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is pleased to announce a new exhibit on view through February 1, 2026: HoCo Open 2026.
HoCo Open 2026 is an annual salon-style non-juried exhibit showcasing artwork in a variety of media by artists who live, work, or study in Howard County.
HoCo Open 2026 is on view through February 1, 2026, at the Arts Council’s new home in the Capitoline Center at 8360 Court Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Join us for an exhibit reception on Thursday, January 22 (snow date January 29) from 6-8pm.
Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, and Sunday 12-4pm. The rest of the building is not accessible to the public at this time due to ongoing renovations. Please visit hocoarts.org for more information on our gradual reopening at the Capitoline Center.
For the most up-to-date information on holiday and weather-related closures, or to learn more about HoCo Arts programs and exhibits, call (410) 313-2787 or visit hocoarts.org.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2026
Contact: Miles Warren
artcenterdirector@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Summer Art Camp Registration Now Open!
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Registration for the Howard County Arts Council’s Summer Art Camps is now open. The Arts Council may be in a new location at the Capitoline Center at 8360 Court Avenue, but our Summer Art Camps are as engaging and creative as ever! Camps are open to the public, regardless of residency in Howard County, for students entering grades K-7. Campers must be at least 5 years of age by September 1, 2026, to be eligible for summer camp.
The Arts Council offers a wide range of visual and performing arts camps. This summer, students can create miniature dioramas in Little Worlds, sew their own stuffed animal friends in The Stuffie Laboratory, explore the world of comic books in Comic Art and Cartooning, and much more! For the full selection of camps, please visit hocoarts.org/camps.
Campers are grouped by age and may enroll for full or half day week-long sessions. Before-care beginning at 8am and after-care until 6pm are also available. Camps conclude with an exhibit or performance of student work on the last day of each camp session. The Arts Council employs experienced teachers, each of whom is supported by one to three camp counselors and volunteers.
Summer camps begin June 22 and run through August 21, 2026. Registration is now open and available online at hocoarts.org/camps or by phone at (410) 313-2787. Families are encouraged to register early.
Please note, the Howard County Arts Council moved to the Capitoline Center in the former circuit courthouse in Historic Ellicott City in December of 2025. Summer Art Camp will take place entirely in our new facility at 8360 Court Avenue, just 10 minutes down the road from the former Center for the Arts.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2025
Contact: Coleen West
coleen@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Welcomes New Member to Board of Directors
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council recently welcomed Theresa Colvin to its multi-talented Board of Directors, led by incoming Board President Andrea Magers.
In welcoming the new member, Magers said, “The Arts Council’s stature as a model multi-purpose arts agency and advocate for the arts is due, in large part, to its strong governance. As President of the Board, I look forward to working with Theresa and our existing Board members to advance the arts in Howard County. We share a passion for our stewardship of the Arts Council and the crucial role the arts have in our quality of life and the health and wellness of our community and our local economy. And I am excited about the wealth of experience and expertise in the arts along with a regional and national perspective that Theresa brings to the Arts Council Board.”
Theresa Colvin
Theresa Colvin is a retired Executive Director with 30+ years advancing the mission of arts service organizations in both the nonprofit and government sectors. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, policy & program development, fundraising, financial management, advocacy and grantmaking. As Executive Director of Mid Atlantic Arts and the Maryland State Arts Council, Theresa served in regional and national leadership roles on numerous committees and boards including the NEA, Americans for the Arts, and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. Theresa lives in Howard County.
Howard County Arts Council Board
The Arts Council’s Board of Directors is a volunteer governing Board that is legally and fiscally responsible for the organization. The Board makes strategic decisions, sets policy, and hires the Executive Director to ensure programs and operations are consistent with the Arts Council’s mission. Board members serve two-year terms with a maximum three-term limit. For more information on the Arts Council Board and its programs, please visit hocoarts.org or call (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2025
Contact: Mary K. Baxter
development@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Celebrates the Arts with Signature Fundraising Event
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – More than 400 guests joined the Howard County Arts Council’s Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Howard Community College’s Peter and Elizabeth Visual and Performing Arts Center. This year’s event netted approximately $70,000 with an additional $58,000 in goods and services donated to support the arts in Howard County! In 28 years, the event has raised more than $1.9 million-all of which has been reinvested in the community to advance the arts. Proceeds from the Celebration help artist awards, grants, scholarships, exhibitions, arts programming, and more.
Kristi Smith, President of the Maryland Region for Howard Hughes, was the Honorary Chair for the evening. Terry N. Eberhardt, musician and Music Coordination for the Howard County Public School System, was the Emcee.
A highlight of the Celebration was the Rising Star Performing Arts Competition. Eight finalists competed for audience vote for the $5,000 award, but only Lynique Webster, who captivated the audience with her performance of “I’m Here” from The Color Purple by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, could be crowned the 2025 Rising Star. The other talented Rising Stars who performed at the Celebration were Rachel Cahoon, Musical Theatre; Emily Tate Daniel, Classical Voice; Danielle Delgado, Mariachi; Kelly Dornan, Dance; Toby Ichniowksi, Classical Voice; Robert Rocheteau, Vibraphone; Jaylin Smith, Musical Theatre.
The evening also included the presentation of the Howie Awards to individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts in Howard County. The recipients were: Truth Thomas, Outstanding Artist; Jennifer Johannes, Outstanding Arts Educator; and Blossoms of Hope, Outstanding Community Supporter of the Arts. Two special Howie Awards were also presented: the Legacy in the Arts was presented to Doreen Falby, Founder of the Peabody Children’s Chorus and the Coleen West Leadership in the Arts Award was presented to Jaye Ayres, Visual Arts Resource Teacher for the Howard County Public School System.
Guest performers featured on stage included students from the Reservoir High School Music Department led by Dr. Greg Knauf, Choral Director, and Colin O’Bryan, Director of Orchestras, and accompanist Dr. Stephen Lay. Entertainment during the reception was provided by members of the Columbia Orchestra Jazz Band and Ric Baylor and Bliss Ananda.
17 of the county’s finest restaurants provided food for the gala and competed for Best Culinary Display. Blackwall Barn & Lodge received first place honors; Cured | 18th & 21st finished in second place; and Absolutely Perfect Catering was third. The Art Auction featured 45 local artists who contributed 60 works of art and 36 works of art were sold!
Each year proceeds from the Celebration of the Arts support grants to local arts organizations and schools (grades K-12), scholarships for emerging artists, and programs in the arts. The Arts Council extends a sincere thank you to all of the board and committee members, sponsors, guests, artists, and volunteers who made this year’s event such an overwhelming success.
For more information, please visit the Arts Council website at hocoarts.org/celebration or call (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2025
Contact: Mary K. Baxter
development@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Honors Five Howie Award Recipients at the 28th Annual Celebration of the Arts
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council will honor this year’s Howie Award recipients at the 28th annual Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 6-10pm at the Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College.
The Howie Awards are presented annually by the Arts Council to an Outstanding Artist, Outstanding Arts Educator, and Outstanding Community Supporter of the Arts. Nominees are judged on their contributions to and their impact on the artistic life Howard County. The Howie Committee also awards the Legacy in the Arts Award and the Coleen West Leadership in the Arts Award at their discretion.
This year’s outstanding Howie Honorees are:
Truth Thomas
Outstanding Artist
Poet, Musician, and Photographer
Truth Thomas is an award-winning poet, singer-songwriter, photographer, and former Capitol recording artist born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and raised in Washington, DC. Once known as Glenn Edward Thomas, he is the founder and Managing Editor of Cherry Castle Publishing and the creator of the widely embraced Skinny poetry form, now taught and published around the world. Truth studied creative writing at Howard University under Dr. Tony Medina and earned his Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from New England College.
Truth’s acclaimed collections include Party of Black, A Day of Presence, Bottle of Life, and Speak Water which received the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry. His children’s book, My TV Is Not the Boss of Me, illustrated by Cory Thomas, was a finalist for the Jessie Redmon Fauset Award in 2014. A former Writer-in-Residence for the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo), he is the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Howard County, Maryland.
Truth’s poems have appeared in more than 150 publications, including The 100 Best African American Poems edited by Nikki Giovanni and This Is the Honey edited by Kwame Alexander. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Skinny Poetry Journal. His latest poetry collection, Focal Lengths, will be forthcoming in 2026.
Jennifer Johannes
Outstanding Arts Educator
Art Teacher, Mt. Hebron High School
Jennifer Johannes is a veteran art educator with over 24 years of experience in public schools. She currently brings her creative spark to Mt. Hebron High School, where she also leads the National Art Honor Society, a service-oriented society that empowers students to use their artistic talents in support of both local and global communities.
A trailblazer in her field, Jen was the second art teacher in Maryland to earn National Board Certification. She holds a Master of Art in Teaching from the College of Notre Dame and has shaped arts education through curriculum writing, presenting at state and national conferences, and working for the College Board. Her leadership roles include serving as Vice President of Advocacy for the Maryland Art Education Association, mentoring 16 student teachers over the years, and leading eight international student art tours.
Jen’s latest endeavor is creating and piloting Unified Art & Leadership in her Mt. Hebron classroom. This innovative Howard County Public School System course unites students of all abilities through art and collaboration. Set to expand district-wide next year, this class embodies her classroom motto: Art is for everyone.
Jen’s classroom radiates inclusivity, kindness, and creative problem-solving—a legacy she’s instilled in thousands of students. Beyond teaching, Jen loves spending time with her family, roller skating, and making art. She lives in Ellicott City with her husband, Kevin, their two children, Daphne and Sully, and their beloved dog, Georgie.
Blossoms of Hope
Outstanding Community Support of the Arts
Hope is a small word, but it is boundless. Hope brings people together; it helps to achieve feats never thought possible. In Howard County, cherry and other pink blossoms have become a symbol of hope. Blossoms of Hope (BOH) has become a champion for those coping with cancer and other illnesses including ever-common mental health issues. They have supported people struggling after a devastating flood or grappling with a worldwide pandemic. For many, the pink blossoms are a way to remember someone who has lost their battle or to honor someone special.
Over the past 20 years, BOH has contributed to the community in a variety of ways including many art-oriented events. In its early years, BOH worked with the community to create lanterns to parade during its first Cherrybration Days event. They held a Haiku for Hope contest with the Columbia Art Center and partnered with Ellicott City Partnership to sponsor the Millstown 5K. BOH is also known for its unique events, including Pretty in Pink, Power of the Purse, The Santa Project, and Beer, Bourbon and Blues.
In 2025, in celebration of their 20th anniversary, BOH brought together the Howard County art community to hold a one-month countywide art show. The show placed 500 pieces on display at 14 locations throughout Howard County. This special event was an opportunity to bring a large-scale art exhibit to Howard County while celebrating BOH’s first two decades of fulfilling their mission to provide “Beauty that Heals, Hope that Inspires.”
Doreen Falby
Legacy in the Arts
Founder, Peabody Children’s Chorus
Doreen Falby began singing in choruses as a child in Scotland. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and a Graduate Artist Diploma in piano from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She pursued post-graduate studies at St. Andrew’s College, Scotland, and is a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music in London. Fellowships from Rotary International and Syracuse University enabled Doreen to earn two Master of Music degrees from Syracuse, in Piano Performance and Vocal Music Education.
After moving to Columbia, Maryland, in 1989, Doreen started a chorus called the Maryland Children’s Singers. Within a few years, families were enrolling their children by the hundreds, and in 1992, the choir became affiliated with The Peabody Institute. Since then, thousands of Howard County children have joined the Peabody Children’s Chorus, many staying from age six through eighteen.
Under Doreen’s direction, the Chorus has performed with major arts organizations, including Baltimore Opera, Baltimore Symphony, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, and U.S. Naval Academy ensembles. The Chorus has toured in Scotland, England, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Seattle, and Hawaii, performing in historic venues such as: St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, and Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. Other notable performance venues include the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall. In 2009, their recording of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS with Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony received a Grammy nomination.
Jaye Ayres
Coleen West Leadership in the Arts
Visual Arts Resource Teacher, Howard County Public School System
Jaye Ayres has been a dedicated visual arts educator in the Howard County Public School System since 1991, retiring this past spring. She served as the Resource Teacher for Visual Arts from2014 to 2025. Previously, she taught at Patapsco Middle School, Lime Kiln Middle School, and Marriotts Ridge High School. Jaye holds a Master of Education in Art Education from Towson University and a Bachelor of Art from Wilson College, with additional graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, Maryland Institute College of Art, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she earned a 2008 Fulbright-Hays Award to study Latin American history and art in Mexico.
A leader in the National Art Education Association (NAEA), Jaye has presented at over a dozen national conferences, was elected to the Board of NAEA, and received the 2008 NAEA Marion Quinn Dix Leadership Award. Her state-level service includes multiple leadership roles within the Maryland Art Education Association, including President and Gazette Editor. She was named Maryland Art Educator of the Year in 2005.
Beyond the classroom, Jaye is passionate about arts advocacy, action research, and teacher mentoring. She is a frequent exhibitor and has been recognized in local juried shows. Deeply committed to advancing student creativity and teacher excellence, her impact spans decades of professional contributions, curriculum innovation, and passionate support for arts education at local, state, and national levels.
About the Celebration of the Arts
Begin the best night of the year with a reception where 15 to 20 local culinary sponsors will showcase their finest foods. Pile your plate high and enjoy the Art Auction featuring work by local and regional artists. Then, at 8pm, guests take their seats for the Rising Star Performing Arts Competition and the presentation of the Howie Awards. Eight talented, local finalists will vie for the audience vote for the $5,000 Rising Star award! In between dazzling performances, the 2025 Howie Awards will be presented to an Outstanding Artist, Arts Educator, and Community Supporter of the Arts in recognition of their contributions to the arts community in Howard County.
Tickets are on sale now and available for $50 and $100. For more information about the Celebration of the Arts and the Howard County Arts Council, please visit hocoarts.org/celebration or call (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2025
Contact: Dana Whipkey
grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Awards Over $600,000 to Local Artists, Arts Organizations, and Schools with FY2026 Grants
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council announced the FY2026 grant recipients for the Community Arts Development (CAD), Individual Artist Merit and Creativity (IAM Creativity), and Artist-in-Education (AiE) programs, among others, on October 19, 2025, at the Howard County Center for the Arts.
Over 170 arts supporters were on hand at the Arts Council’s Annual Meeting and grants were awarded to 25 Howard County organizations, nine Howard County public schools, and 12 Baltimore City arts and cultural organizations in support of general operations, artist residencies, and special projects in the arts.
Grantees were congratulated by Howard County Arts Council Executive Director Coleen West, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, State Delegate Jessica Feldmark, County Councilmember Deb Jung, State Senator Clarence Lam, and State Delegate Natalie Ziegler.
Grants were presented in these categories to the following organizations:
Community Arts Development (Operating)
· Chamber Music Maryland – $44,000.00
· Columbia Center for Performing Arts – $60,000.00
· Columbia Festival of the Arts – $23,000.00
· Columbia Orchestra – $50,000.00
· Columbia Pro Cantare – $30,000.00
· Howard County Poetry and Literature Society – $18,000.00
· Kinetics Dance Theatre – $36,000.00
· Silhouette Stages – $9,000.00
Community Arts Development (Project)
· Columbia Bands – $6,000.00
· Columbia Vantage House- $2,752.00
· First Evangelical Lutheran Church – $6,000.00
· Glen Mar United Methodist Church – $6,000.00
· HopeWorks of Howard County – $6,000.00
· Howard County Chinese School – $6,000.00
· Howard County Concert Odyssey – $6000.00
· Howard County Summer Theatre – $5,980.00
· Inner Arbor Trust – $6,000.00
· Little Patuxent Review – $6,000.00
· ManneqART – $5,000.00
· Maryland Winds – $6,000.00
· Misako Ballet Company – $6,000.00
· Movement in Music Ensemble – $6,000.00
· ShowTime Singers – $5,500.00
· Sundays at Three – $6,000.00
· Winter Growth – 6,000.00
Jim Rouse Theatre Subsidy
· Columbia Orchestra – 5,500.00
· Columbia Pro Cantare – $3,660.00
· Howard County Chinese School – $1,740.00
· Kinetics Dance Theatre – $7,500.00
· Misako Ballet Company – $1,760.00
·
Artists-In-Education
· Burleigh Manor Middle School PTA – $2,500.00
· Clarksville Elementary School PTA – $2,024.00
· Dunloggin Middle School PTA – $2,500.00
· Elkridge Landing Middle School PTA – $1,500.00
· Glenwood Middle School PTA – $4,200.00
· Lime Kiln Middle School PTA – $2,100.00
· Patapsco Middle School PA – $2,250.00
· Running Brook Elementary School PTA – $2,500.00
· Talbott Springs Elementary School PTA – $2,936.00
Baltimore City Arts & Cultural Organizations
· American Visionary Arts Museum – $4,751.00
· Baltimore Center Stage – $20,497.00
· Baltimore Museum of Art – $24,013.00
· Baltimore Museum of Industry – $12,067.00
· Baltimore Symphony Orchestra – $23,963.00
· Maryland Center for History and Culture – $6,125.00
· Maryland Science Center – $19,212.00
· Maryland Zoological Society – $24,878.00
· National Aquarium – $13,469.00
· Port Discovery Children’s Museum – $14,000.00
· The Walters Art Museum – $18,517.00
Outreach Howard
· American Visionary Arts Museum – $2,040.00
· Baltimore Symphony Orchestra – $13,627.00
· Chesapeake Shakespeare Company – $13,597.00
· Maryland Science Center – $11,333.00
· Maryland Zoological Society – $6,627.000
IAM Creativity – Film/Video & New Media
· Kelli Williams – $5,000.00
· Christopher Heady – $2,000.00
· Willy Conley – $1,000.00
IAM Creativity – Music & Music Composition
· Evan Nicole Brown – $5,000.00
· Diana Cantrelle McKinney – $1,000.00
· Junghoon Park – $1,000.00
· Jason Wilson – $1,000.00
Each year, the Arts Council awards nearly $1 million in operating and special project grants to artists, local arts organizations, K-12 schools, key Baltimore City arts and cultural institutions, and others. As the primary funder for the arts in Howard County, the Arts Council is committed to investing grant funds wisely, broadening opportunities in the arts, and encouraging greater public participation in the arts. For more information and to all the Arts Council grant programs, please visit hocoarts.org/grants or call (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2025
Contact: Miles Warren
artcenterdirector@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Announces Two New Exhibits: Art Howard County 2025 and Sibling Revelry
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is pleased to announce two new exhibits opening October 10 and on view through November 15: Art Howard County 2025 and Sibling Revelry.
Art Howard County 2025 is a biennial, multi-media juried exhibit showcasing the impressive depth of artistic talent right here in our community. The exhibit features visual artists, 18 years of age or older, who live, work, or study in Howard County. This year’s juror is Liz Henzey, Director of the Columbia Association Art Center.
Art Howard County 2025 will feature the work of Trudy Babchak, Amy Bandel, Joyce Bell, Cori Bowen, Stephanie Boyer, Patricia Buck, Warren Chambers, Pamela Chase, Susan Concannon, Diane Dunn, Betty Foreman, Kerin Forsyth, Howard Garrett, Cheri Glover, Julie Gross, Mary Hahn-Jacob, Nancy Hannans, Beth Higgins, Hima Jain, Nishita Jain, Karen Jury, Brian Kennedy, David Knipfer, Edna Knox-Davin, Lisa Kozel Mangione, Judith Krauthamer, Taube Kravitz, Patricia Lang, Tammy Leffler, Cheryl MacLean, Kevina Maher, Susan Mason, Mary Jo Messenger, Amanda Milliner, Lynda Mitic, Katherine Nelson, Wendy Ng, Marcia Palmer, Helen Pappas, Zina Poliszuk, Linda Press, David Pumplin, Wiley Purkey, Constance Rankin, Michelle Reuster, April Rimpo, Rebecca Rothey, Lisa Scarbath, Chaya Schapiro, Cathy Schwarz, Susan Sonde, Jessica Taylor, Vickie Thurston, Andrei Trach, Jay Delnegro, Barbara VanRossum, Katherine Wah, JoAnn Weiss, Jonathan West, Karen Winston-Levin, Marcie Wolf-Hubbard, Allyssa Yamaguchi, and Rebecca Zeligman.
Sibling Revelry features work from Laura Douglas Howell and John Mark Howell, sibling artists who approach abstract painting in radically different ways.
Both exhibits will be on view from October 10 through November 15, 2025, with a free public reception on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 6-8pm. This reception will be the Arts Council’s final reception at the 8510 High Ridge Rd location!
Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, and Sunday 12-4pm. For the most up-to-date information on holiday and weather-related closures, or to learn more about HoCo Arts programs and exhibits, call (410) 313-2787 or visit hocoarts.org.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2025
Contact: Dana Whipkey
grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Seeks Submissions from Local Artists for Cultural Arts Directory
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is seeking submissions from local visual and performing artists who offer workshops, performances, and residencies for its 2026 Cultural Arts Directory.
The Cultural Arts Directory provides information about artists and arts organizations including programming overviews, pricing, and contact information to cultural arts presenters such as PTA representatives, Recreation and Parks Representatives, festivals, and libraries. Through the Cultural Arts Directory, organizations can identify visual, literary, and performing artists that fit their programming needs.
Interested artists and organizations can learn more and submit at hocoarts.org/showcase. Submissions are due October 21, 2025. Please direct any questions to Dana Whipkey at grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org or call the Arts Council at (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2025
Contact: Dana Whipkey
grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Additional Artists-in-Education Grant Funds Available for PTAs from Howard County Arts Council
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is accepting a second round of applications for the FY2026 Artists-in-Education (AiE) grant program. The AiE grant program provides funding for professional artists in residence at Howard County private and public K-12 schools to help students foster creative exploration through hands-on experiences in the arts.
Interested applicants should visit hocoarts.org/aie for guidelines, additional information, and to apply. Applications are due November 12, 2025. The AiE grant is open to all Howard County Public School System’s 501c3 K-12 schools and independent 501c3 schools where a PTA is not in place.
The Howard County Arts Council is dedicated to serving and enriching our community by advancing the arts. To carry out its mission, the Arts Council awards operating and project grants to eligible organizations. HoCo Arts is committed to helping promote, improve, and strengthen the structure of community arts organizations by providing operating funds for established arts organizations and by supporting the development of small and mid-sized arts organizations through project-specific funds.
The Arts Council’s grant program is supported through grants from the Howard County government and the Maryland State Arts Council as well as through its own foundation, corporate, and individual giving initiatives.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2025
Contact: Mary K. Baxter
development@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Eight Local Performing Artists Will Compete for Rising Star at the 28th Annual Celebration of the Arts
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Eight local performing artists will participate in the Rising Star Performing Arts Competition as part of the Howard County Arts Council’s 28th annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 6-10pm at the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College.
The Rising Star Performing Arts Competition showcases performers aged 18-35 who live, work, train, or perform in Howard County. Following the performances, the audience will cast their votes for the winner of the $5,000 prize.
This year’s Rising Stars are:
Rachel Cahoon
Rachel Cahoon is a musical theatre performer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. She has previously performed with Next Stop Theatre, Gretna Theatre, Media Theatre, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and starred in multiple productions at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. She plans to continue pursuing her acting career at Toby’s and around the DMV.
Emily Tate Daniel
Emily Tate Daniel is an American soprano on the rise. This season, she performs opera scenes in Mosset, France; sings a concert of arias at The Hague Central Library; and portrays Nedda in Pagliacci with Greve Opera. Previous performances include the title role in Luisa Miller with Verismo Opera, Alice (cover) in Falstaff with Opera San José, Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte with Asheville Lyric Opera, and Micaëla (cover) in Carmen with Long Island Opera. A Maryland native, Emily is an alumna of the Peabody Conservatory, and she currently coaches her repertoire with Joy Schreier, a coach in Laurel, Maryland.
Danielle Delgado
Danielle Delgado’s passion for music began at a young age, singing alongside her mother who instilled in her a deep pride for her Latina heritage. Danielle believes in using music to celebrate culture and build community. She has performed in various vocal styles including musical theater, contemporary, and jazz, but is most passionate about sharing traditional Mexican music. She currently works in Howard County doing sales and marketing for The Little Gym of Columbia, where she previously served as Assistant Gym Director. Her dream is to one day form a full mariachi group to share her cultural pride with more audiences of all backgrounds.
Kelly Dornan
Kelly Dornan is a ballet dancer from Howard County, Maryland, receiving early training in Columbia and Ellicott City. While a student at Glenelg High School she attend the Washington School of Ballet’s Professional Training Program on scholarship studying with esteemed teachers Kee Juan Han, Kristina Windom, and Vladimir Djouloukhadze. As a student, she performed with The Washington Ballet in Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker and George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes. Kelly has danced with Colorado Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater, and Boulder Ballet; in new works by Andrea Schermoly, Caili Quan, and Sidra Bell; performed at Vail Dance Festival alongside principal dancers from American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet; and has recently begun dancing for Lexington Ballet in Kentucky.
Toby Ichniowski
Toby Ichniowski is a vocalist who completed their Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Towson University and is now working towards their Master of Music at Temple University. Originally from Baltimore, MD, Toby’s past operatic experience includes playing Adele in Die Fledermaus, Rose Maybud in Ruddigore, Fanny in La cambiale di matrimonio, and covering Le Prince in Cendrillon and Aline in The Sorcerer. They have also performed in scenes as Bess from Breaking the Waves and Frasquita from Carmen.
Robert Rocheteau
Robert Rocheteau is a contemporary classical musician with a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland. A percussionist, Robert is based in Columbia, Maryland, and known for diverse and engaging performances. He has started teaching percussion at Gettysburg College, teaching private students in Howard County, and building up a full-time performance calendar. Recent highlights include performances in Washington DC at the Fête de la Musique Festival at the French Embassy, the Sound Scene Festival at the Hirschorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and performances at the Kennedy Center.
Jaylin Smith
Jaylin Smith is an Honors Junior double majoring in Theatre and English at McDaniel College. Performing since age ten, Jaylin has trained at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and worked as a Musical Theatre Repertoire Coach. She received the Ben Vassiliev Memorial Scholarship, Celonia B. Walden Award for the Performing Arts, and the Outstanding Theatre Arts Student in Acting and Performance Awards upon graduating from Centennial High School in 2022. Her recent roles include Oscar Wilde in Gross Indecency and Margot in Legally Blonde. With a deep passion for performance education, she hopes to one day found a performing arts center for underprivileged children.
Lynique Webster
Lynique Webster completed her Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. While at the University of Maryland she sang with the mixed vocal ensemble, Faux Paz. She’s recognized as a standout soloist in both live performances and recorded media and is featured on the ensemble’s release Lithium. Currently, Lynique is a choral music educator at Oakland Mills and Clarksville Middle Schools in Howard County while also serving as a worship leader at the Interdenominational Church of God. She is also a performer with Bachelor Boys Band and Sound Society band, and is a founding member in the six-person vocal band NOMADIC.
About the Celebration of the Arts
Begin the best night of the year with a reception where 15 to 20 local culinary sponsors will showcase their finest foods. Pile your plate high and enjoy the Art Auction featuring work by local and regional artists. Then, at 8pm, guests take their seats for the Rising Star Performing Arts Competition and the presentation of the Howie Awards. Eight talented, local finalists will vie for the audience vote for the $5,000 Rising Star award! In between dazzling performances, the 2025 Howie Awards will be presented to an Outstanding Artist, Arts Educator, and Community Supporter of the Arts in recognition of their contributions to the arts community in Howard County.
Tickets are on sale now and available for $50 and $100. For more information about the Celebration of the Arts and the Howard County Arts Council, please visit hocoarts.org/celebration or call (410) 313-2787.