Young Performers International Receives Scholarship Grant For Local Student

Jessie Land, a student at Redwood High School, was an untrained singer with good piano skills. Since joining Young Performers International (YPI) over a year ago she has blossomed into an extraordinary talent with a wonderful stage presence and an infectious sparkle in her delivery.

Young Performers International is a nonprofit children’s performing arts company which began in 2000 and has now expanded with classes in three San Francisco Bay Area counties with almost 250 students. Leela Pratt, a Belvedere resident, is the Founder and Executive Director of YPI. The program builds competence, self-confidence, fulfillment and an open heart in each child.

The Belvedere Community Foundation (BCF) was pleased to make a scholarship grant of $1100 to Jessie who is a resident of Tiburon. Her family met the financial need criteria of YPI. The grant covered training for Jessie which included weekly classes, four individual coaching sessions with top Bay Area teachers, and monthly concerts. She performed for Bread & Roses, at the San Francisco Public Library, in Justin Herman Plaza and at Yoshi’s in Oakland. 

Jessie also performed for Bay Area Grammy Winner Carlos Santana who said, “This girl is going places!”

At the Annual Meeting and Reception of the Belvedere Community Foundation in November, 2008, Young Performers International introduced Jessie Land. The young vocalist, together with a group of musicians, performed to the delight of the attendees.

For more information, go to www.youngperformersintl.org or call 415-420-2960.