Gold Coast Arts Center's 5th Annual 'Your Big Break' Competition Crowns Winner

This past Saturday, April 1st, the Gold Coast Arts Center and Love Revolution Org's search for the next big music star came to a thrilling conclusion as the 5th Annual "Your Big Break" contest crowned 21yr old singer-songwriter Paris Ray this year's winner along with runner up Julia Lambert, and an outstanding performance by NY Natives The Como Brothers!

Having brought some of the best unsigned talent New York and Long Island have to offer to the forefront, performances by Ray and Lambert along with remaining finalists Julia Hayden, Sydney Perruzza, Jaclyn Manfredi, and Lydia von Hof were crafted with the help of music industry mentors as judges assigned them one George Michael song each in tribute to the late star. The mentors for this year's competition were American Idol's Robbie Rosen, Dream Recording Studio's Jason Melker, Sojourn Record's Mark Ambosino, arranger/producer/songwriter/remixer and former VP of A&R at Atlantic Records Jimmy Bralower, singer/songwriter John Hampson of Nine Days, and songwriter/producer Donnie Klang of MTV's "Making the Band".

Paris Ray has been performing since she first picked up a guitar at 13, and released her first album "Your Cup of Tea" at only 15. Since then, she's performed at a number of famed venues from New York City's The Bitter End to The National Underground and The Gig Shack, while also opening for famed acts like Katrina of Katrina and the Waves, and Jon Herington of Steely Dan! A songwriting major in college, her newest EP "Just Visiting" dropped in July of 2016. During the final round, Ray dazzled the judges with her original song, "The Astronaut" and a second, highly personal original song that gets to the heart of domestic violence.

As this year's winner, Ray will be awarded an opening spot for a national act at The Paramount in Huntington, recording time at Betamax Artist Development, a feature on Reverbnation.com, a gift certificate from All Music Inc. and ZOOM North America, a PR and social media campaign including management, booking and label services consultation with the Rick Eberle Agency.

Judges for the competition included ReverbNation.com's Lou Plaia, All Music Inc.'s Guy Brogna, Songwriter Tara Eberle Drouin, Songwriter/Producer/Engineer David Caggiano, Club Booking Agents Neil Rubenstein and Michele Rizzo, and Label Executives Stephen Marcuccio, Jerry Lembo, Linda Ingrisano and Mark Ambrosino.

During very special occasions, the Arts Center is transformed into the GOLD COAST ACOUSTIC CAFÉ, a music venue that showcases local up-and-coming talent as well as established music acts. With its black box theater performance space and a lounge in the art gallery, the GOLD COAST ACOUSTIC CAFÉ is one of the few small music venues around which makes for a special and intimate atmosphere for artists and audience alike, especially during YOUR BIG BREAK! Other past artists who have performed in the headline slots have included: Lem Payne Jr., Lennon & Katie, Matt Grabowski, Gnarly Karma, Annika, Iridesense, John Hampson of Nine Days, The Brady Brothers, and Sir Cadian Rhythm - all of whom are local musicians who've had major success in the industry, with hopes to further inspire the next generation of New York stars presented each year.

After a succession of showcase performances finally culminating to the finals this past weekend, over 1,600 had originally sent in their videos to be considered to enter the competition. And now with Paris Ray taking the title of this year's winner, She'll have plenty to celebrate as she uses the tools she's been rewarded to continue her rise- while Gold Coast Arts Center and Love Revolution Org gear up for next year's search!

For More About the Gold Coast Arts Center, VISIT:

www.GoldCoastArts.org or CALL (516) 829-2570