The Music Hall Reveals Emerging Artist Grant Winners
The free outdoor pre-show celebration will feature additional grant award winners ahead of John Legend's Emerging Artist Benefit Concert on May 2.
The Music Hall has revealed the winners of its 2026 Emerging Artist Grant Program, selected from more than 40 submissions. This year’s Grand Prize Winners – Abrielle Scharff and Natalia Bonfini – will open for Grammy-winning artist John Legend during The Music Hall’s fourth annual Emerging Artist Benefit Concert on Saturday, May 2.
Before the main event, the public is invited to a FREE Outdoor Pre-Show Celebration on Chestnut Street directly in front of The Music Hall’s Historic Theater from 5-7pm, featuring performances by three additional grant winners: Dom the Composer, Tyler Levs, and Henry Honkonen.
A limited number of tickets remain for John Legend: An Evening of Songs & Stories at The Music Hall’s Historic Theater. Proceeds from the Emerging Artist Benefit Concert directly support The Music Hall’s mission while helping champion the next generation of artists.
Through the Emerging Artist Grant Program, The Music Hall awards two $5,000 grand prize grants and three $2,500 runner-up grants to musicians actively performing contemporary music. The funding supports artists’ professional development, from live opportunities and recording time to music videos, marketing assets, and career-building strategies. In addition to financial support, recipients benefit from The Music Hall’s valuable industry connections.
2026 Grand Prize Winners – Performing at the Historic Theater
Abrielle Scharff
Hailing from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Abrielle Scharff pairs a powerhouse voice with a singer-songwriter sensibility shaped by classic rock and family musical legacy. She has performed on stages from London to New York, opened for artists including Patty Griffin and Ruston Kelly, and earned a top-ten finish in the Brandi Carlile Cover Stories Contest.
Natalia Bonfini
A blues-driven powerhouse and award-winning songwriter, Natalia Bonfini honed her storytelling while busking in Provincetown before rising to the Top 50 on American Idol. Following the release of her EP Beyond the Broken Pieces, she has continued to build her reputation as a compelling live performer.
2026 Grant Award Winners – Performing at the Free Outdoor Pre-Show Celebration
Dom the Composer
The Boston area-based Haitian-American singer-songwriter creates music with rhythm, blues, and a whole lot of soul. Rooted in his earliest experiences with the All Saints Choir of Men & Boys in Ashmont, his sound draws inspiration from artists such as Bill Withers, Daniel Caesar, and Lizzy McAlpine.
Tyler Levs
Maine-based singer-songwriter Tyler Levs blends folk, rock, and pop into a dynamic sound that has helped him build a global audience through live streaming. A versatile loopstation artist and producer, he continues to expand his reach both as a solo performer and through his duo project, MUTU4L.
Henry Honkonen
Henry Honkonen is an artist, songwriter, and producer from Southern Maine, now based in Nashville, Tennessee. With more than 500,000 followers across platforms, he is building a movement rooted in authenticity and faith. His work spans two sides of one creative identity: Hen and Honk.
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