December 4, 2024
Richmond, VA | The Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) welcomes nine new artists to its statewide Touring Artist Roster:
Akeylah Simone | Soul, R&B, Rock – Norfolk
Alfred Yun | Jazz – Centreville
Jack Hinshelwood | Traditional, Folk – Abingdon
Jstop Latin Soul | Afro-Cuban, Jazz – Roanoke
Kinnfolk | Celtic Folk – Roanoke
Marjory Serrano-Coyer | Latin American Classical Music – Leesburg
The Guitar Renegades | Jazz, Pop, and Classical Guitar – Arlington
Trio Niche | Classical, Baroque – Williamsburg
Ziggy Sawdust & the Chainsaw from Mars | Chainsaw Portraiture – Woodstock
Bringing Art to Every Corner of the Commonwealth
Showcasing a diverse array of talent, these nine new artists and ensembles expand the prestigious VCA Touring Artist Roster to 64 available acts for booking by nonprofit organizations, schools, and local or tribal governments across Virginia. Chosen for their artistic excellence and ability to deliver inspiring, entertaining, and educational programs, these new Touring Artists are dedicated to bringing their unique artistry to communities throughout the Commonwealth.
About Virginia Touring Grants
Virginia Touring Grants play a key role in ensuring that Virginians across the state have access to dynamic and engaging performances. These grants support in-state touring by reimbursing eligible organizations for up to 50% of performance fees when they present artists featured on the VCA Touring Artist Roster. This long-standing program broadens access to the arts, creating new opportunities for Virginia artists, arts organizations, and audiences statewide. To explore the complete list of Touring Artists, visit the VCA Touring Artist Roster, here. Applications for FY26 Virginia Touring activities taking place July 1, 2025, through June 15, 2026, will open March 1, 2025.
About the New Artists
Akeylah Simone | Norfolk
Akeylah Simone, a rising singer and songwriter from Hampton Roads, VA, blends Rock, R&B, Pop, and Jazz in her unique sound. In just two years, she has earned Grammy Ballot recognition and multiple awards, including ISSA’s 2022 Female Rising Star.
Alfred Yun | Centreville
Alfred Yun is a Korean-American jazz pianist and composer known for blending jazz with elements of rock, K-pop, traditional Korean, and classical music. Honored as an Artist-in-Residence for the 2023-2024 season at the Music Center at Strathmore, he brings a unique fusion of cultural and musical influences to his performances.
Jack Hinshelwood | Abingdon
Jack Hinshelwood is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist with over 50 years of experience, blending folk, bluegrass, and Americana music. A winner of multiple prestigious competitions, he co-produced DOC AT 100 and received the 2024 Arts Achievement Award for his contributions to the arts.
Jstop Latin Soul | Roanoke
Jstop Latin Soul, an Afro-Cuban jazz and salsa band from Roanoke, VA, blends Latin rhythms with jazz and soul. Their high-energy performances and debut album ‘Rumbalike’ showcase their fresh, innovative take on Latin jazz.
Kinnfolk | Roanoke
Kinnfolk, the husband-and-wife duo from the Blue Ridge Mountains, blend Celtic folk with Appalachian charm through octave mandolin, bodhrán, and harmonies. Winners of the 2023 Robinson Emerging Artist Showcase, they were named one of the top 5 Celtic bands to watch and are known for their engaging performances and original compositions.
Marjory Serrano-Coyer | Leesburg
Dr. Marjory Serrano-Coyer, a Venezuelan violinist, blends classical technique with Latin American music, highlighting rare works by Latin American composers. She performs with pianist Dr. Hsin-Yi Chen, showcasing unique violin-piano sonatas and sharing the richness of Latin American classical music.
The Guitar Renegades | Arlington
The Guitar Renegades, a jazz-influenced guitar quintet, blend classical guitar ensemble arrangements and perform a diverse repertoire that includes Bach, Simon & Garfunkel, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and more. Their performances often include insightful commentary on the pieces.
Trio Niche | Williamsburg
Trio Niche specializes in classical music from 1780 to 1820, performing on period instruments like a replica 1805 Walther fortepiano. Their concerts bring to life the sounds of historical salons with music by composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven and offers audiences a glimpse of the music as it would have been heard in the time of Jane Austen and Thomas Jefferson.
Ziggy Sawdust & the Chainsaw from Mars | Woodstock
Ziggy Sawdust and the Chainsaws from Mars is the artistic vision of Glenn Richardson, who combines chainsaw art and performance to create live wood carvings of portraits in just 17 minutes. With a unique blend of humor, artistry, and theatrics, audiences watch as a plank of pine is transformed into a portrait, which is then “purified” with flame, creating a memorable, interactive experience.
About the Virginia Commission for the Arts
The Virginia Commission for the Arts – established in 1968 – is the state agency dedicated to investing in the arts of the Commonwealth. Through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Commission invests in arts organizations, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, educators, and artists.
Media Contact
Colleen Dugan Messick, Executive Director
804.225.3132
colleen.messick@vca.virginia.gov