Maya Wagner
New Jersey, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2001 | SELF
Music
Press
WASHINGTON, DC – First Lady Melania Trump attended the 2019 VSA International Young Soloists Competition concert this evening on the Millennium Stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Tonight’s concert came from the Kennedy Center’s Office of VSA and Accessibility, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disabilities program at the Kennedy Center that serves the international disability and arts community. The concert highlighted the talents of five young artists who performed two songs each for the audience.
The First Lady was joined by Deborah Rutter, Kennedy Center President. At the conclusion of the performance, Mrs. Trump assisted in presenting awards to each performer before joining them along with their families at a small reception.
“Thank you to the talented young musicians who performed tonight,” First Lady Melania Trump said. “Music is such a powerful tool for communication and therapy. The arts not only help to provide a vehicle of self-expression for our youth, but teaches the importance of diligent practice and dedication in order to accomplish great things. Thank you to the John F. Kennedy Center for having me, and especially for providing your continued support to ensure that so many are able to enjoy the arts.”
In line with her Be Best initiative, the First Lady continues to support and highlight programs that bolster the confidence of youth and that allow their passions to be explored.
List of performers:
Tori Tedeschi Adams, Vocalist Performer
Avery Dixon, Saxophone Performer
Kasyfi Kalyasyena, Piano Performer
Maya Wagner, Vocalist Performer
José André Montaño, Piano Performer - whitehouse.gov
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
Maya Wagner was born and raised in Central New Jersey, and has been writing her own songs as long as she can remember. Family has has always been the center-point of Maya's life, as she was raised in two supportive homes with four loving moms, and three incredible sisters. From a young age, Maya realized that singing and songwriting helped her manage her Tourette syndrome and ADHD. She continued to write and perform, and in high school she discovered her passion for producing. At 14, Maya invested her life savings into recording equipment and DAW Software, creating a "recording studio" in her bedroom where she began turning her original songs into produced tracks. Maya fell in love with the process of writing, recording, and mixing, and began writing more and more.
Maya's pieces feature edgy but vulnerable lyrics with intense electronic production. Not only does she seek to destigmatize mental illness, she also looks to contradict the idea that queer musicians must to hide their sexuality in order to succeed. Maya wants to inspire others who have struggled with disabilities, mental illness, or discrimination feel safe. She wants to show others that anything is possible.
Maya was awarded with Kennedy Center's 2019 VSA International Young Soloist's Competition award, and will be performing a set on Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage this July. Maya is also thrilled to have booked two sets at MusikFest, in Bethlehem, PA in August 2019.
Maya is currently attending Berklee College of Music studying Electronic Production and Design.
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