Photo by Sarah Morey
The 2016 Forte’ Awards in Grand Sierra Resort’s Grand Theatre was the black-tie gala on Nov. 3 envisioned by Executive Director Bill Woody.
With more than 500 nominees (counting individual band members) from 37 categories covering music, theater, dance, magic and comedy receiving more than 44,000 votes the talent represented at the awards ceremony was incredible. The lobby was filled to capacity prior to showtime, with all the nominees dressed to the nines taking turns getting their pictures taken by a bank of photographers at the step and repeat wall and then moving down the line for an interview with Shanda Golden of In The Vault with Shanda Golden.
Photo by Tony Dellacioppa
The excitement in the room was palpable. Everybody was having a great time meeting up with their peers and sharing the evening with one another. Celebrity presenter and lifetime Forte’ Award recipient Doug Clifford, original drummer for Creedence Clearwater Revival and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, was there shaking hands and having pictures taken with fans and nominees. Other celebrity presenters included Max Volume of KOZZ, Melody Ann Minx of Media Magnifico, Sparks Mayor Geno Martini and Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.
Photo by Sarah Morey
The show opened with a dance number by BLV Productions, choreographed by Brittany Irwin with Ashley Kepler singing “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” This was followed by another dance with several ballerinas presented by the Nevada Dance Academy, choreographed by Diane Guest Hoff. Finding the boogie-woogie tempo inappropriate, ballerina Sarah MacHarg bumped Colin Ross off of the piano and played an amazing rendition of Rachmaninov’s Prelude in C Sharp Minor.
Members of Reno-based Cirque Vagabond delivered a mime performance between each segment of the presentation, working with lettered cubes on stage to gradually (with great effort) spell out the next award category. At one break, producer and creator of Reno’s only professional circus company, Cirque Vagabond, Ben Pierson performed a short version of cube juggling that was amazing to see. Holding it all together was standup comedian Justin Rupple acting as MC for the night. He was magnificent and completely at ease all evening long. To wrap up, the Greg Golden Band played a couple of songs before the party moved to the Grand Sierra’s LEX Nightclub.
Lest we not forget that the goal of the Forte’ Awards was twofold: to recognize and acknowledge our region’s talented performing artists and also to raise money for three local charities, Veterans Resource Center, Northern Nevada Human Society and The Food Bank of Northern Nevada. The Grand Theatre was about half full for this event. So was the glass half full or half empty? You be the judge. Based on this quote from Forte’ Video Producer, Gene Larson, the GSR is also impressed. The crew said we were very professional. The owner (of the Grand Sierra Resort) came in to the show several times throughout the evening. He spoke to the entertainment director (Chris Christiansen) after the show, and said, “Whatever it takes, I want Forte Awards back here next year.”
Photo by Nick McCabe
Photo by Sarah Morey
Photo by Nick McCabe
Photo by Sarah Morey
- 2016 Forte’ Awards
Winners in bold - DANCE
- BALLET, CONTEMPORARY & LYRICAL
Anna Peralez
Brit Burns
Cordelia Leeder – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Donald Mahoney
Hannah Hoobyar
Jordan Van Worth
Nathaniel Tavcar
Scooby Meredith - PRODUCTION SHOW
Courtney Cobble
Dana Hatjakes – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Julia Mansfield-Cholico
July Reddick - MUSICAL THEATER
Adam Whitney
Ashley Wallick – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Cyrena Weaver
Kennedy Cramer
Maya Carleton
Tabitha Row - JAZZ & TAP
Dana Nott
Dino Elias
Erika Kaski
Jayde Reid
Jennifer Oropeza
Marla Richardson – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Micheal Kaskie
Savannah Shutz - BALLROOM, WORLD DANCE & MOVEMENT
Gerzon Chaves
Gustavo Velasco Jara
Kandy Valentine
Robin Kay
Spencer Chirstian
Terri Sheridan – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Marigold Dance Company - HIP HOP, POP LOCK, BREAKER & STREET PERFORMER
Alex Chicle Gumm – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Dillion Daggs
Jose Peralez
Michelle Nakpill
Thyrone Cahigas - SPECIAL ACT PERFORMER
CJ
Mikaela Bianchi – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Rebeca Yruegas
Sarah Roulias
Sarah Sherbert
Siren Society
Feather Pistal
- MAGIC/COMEDY
- MAGICIAN
Eli Kerr
Jacques Simard
Larry Wilson – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Robert Hall - IMPROV
Christiana Frank- FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Christopher Daniels
Ian Sorensen
Sam O’Brien
Stacy Johnson - COMEDIAN
Aurora Singh
Drew Shafer
Ethan Pickett
Jon Porter
Kelly Hilbert
Matt “Tiny” Lowe
Nick Josten – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Paul Bronken
Sam O’Brien
Sammy Solorio
- THEATER
- ACTOR, DRAMATIC ROLE
Bradford Ka’ai’ai
Dirk Miller
Dylan Arnold
Dylan Smith
Gary Eugene Cremeans
Jesse James Ziegler – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Jessey Richards
Luke Allen
Rod Hearn - ACTRESS, DRAMATIC ROLE
Alexandria Pauletto
Ashley Marie James
Gillian Palmer
Hannah Davis
Isabella Hodgin Lindsey – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Kate Atack
LaRonda Etheridge
Laryssa Kolstrup
Rachel Douglass
Sandra Brunell Neace13. ACTOR, COMEDIC ROLE
Cameron M. Shirey
Christopher Daniels – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Cody Canon
Dave Anderson
David Richards
Lewis Frank Zaumeyer
Mark Maher
Michael Peters
Rodney Hurst
Scott Dundas - ACTRESS, COMEDIC ROLE
Chase McKenna
Evonne Kezios
Jasmine Jiang
Juli Fair
Kathy Welch
Lyndsey Langsdale
Nasya Mancini – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Sophie Moeller
Stacey Spain
Vanessa Ribeiro - ACTOR, MUSICAL ROLE
Adam Whitney
Brandon Trefethen
Eric Williams
Harrison Troise – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Jeff Chamberlin
Jeffrey Bentley
John Frederick
Nick Ramirez
Ryan Kelly - ACTRESS, MUSICAL ROLE
Amy Ginder
Annikki Larsson
Cami Thompson
Cori Lynne
Hannah Mills
Heather Garrick
Jill Marlene
Marti Marangelli Creveling
Tiffany Joy Nunez
Valerie Burnett
Zakotah Sevon – FORTE’ RECIPIENT - ACTOR, CLASSICAL, SHAKESPEAREAN & OPERATIC ROLE
Chadaeos Clarno
Greg Klino – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Lachlan McKinney
Scott Rankin - ACTRESS, CLASSICAL, SHAKESPEAREAN & OPERATIC ROLE
Amanda Alvey
Ashley Hutchinson – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Cassandra Michelle Moore
Cheryl Cardoza
Regina Powers
- MUSIC INDIVIDUAL
- DRUMS & PERCUSSION
Cliff Porter
Cody Remaklus
Dean Rossi
Frank Fletcher
Greg Lewis
Kevin Maxwell
Michael Young
Miguel Jimenez-Cruz
Sharon Hickox
Tony Savage – FORTE’ RECIPIENT - MULTI-INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMER
Andy Hauck
Blue Dyno
Alan Griffith – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Grace Hayes
Krystallos
Reed Kirst
Todd Green
Up is the Down is the - JAZZ INSTRUMENTALIST
Adam Benjamin
Jimmy Vermillion
John Shipley
Niall McGuinesss
Peter Epstein
Rick Metz
Rocky Tatarelli – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Tristan Seizler - BASS
Alex Koronstinsky
Dante Orlando
Gia Torcaso – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Hans Halt
Joe McKenna
Mac Esposito
Mike Mayhill
Scot Marshall
Zack Teran - GUITAR (solo)
Clemon Charles
Eric Stangeland
Joshua Saltsman
Mark Johnson
Michelle Belle
Tyler Stafford – FORTE’ RECIPIENT - GUITAR WITH BAND
Andrew Owen Wasson
Buddy Emmer
David Ecker
Decoy/Jeff Stewart
Jason King Roxas – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
John Kumanski
Rick Hammond
Scott Schlingheyde
Tim Tucker (Band)
Tony Ghiglieri - ELECTRONIC
Blue Louie
Erik Lobe
Giant Fighting Robots
HullabaloO-Andrew Bryant
Kystallos
Noisechemistz – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Reed Kirst
Sub Docta
Vice Versa - HIP HOP VOCALIST
AKBADD
Apprentice – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Black Rock City Allstars
Chapter 13
E$$ay
Redfield Clipper - FEMALE VOCALIST
Caley Chapman
Carolyn Dolan
Grace Hayes
Jakki Ford
Jenes Carter
Jenny Oxier
Kate Cotter
Lizzie Cates
Mel Wade
Monique Jade – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Natalie Jones
Sam Lowe - MALE VOCALIST
Cliff Porter
Eric Andersen
Joel Ackerson
Kevin Karp
Kiba Walker
Leroy Bowers
Pete Barnato
Shane Whitecloud
Tobin Jones
Tyler Stafford – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
- MUSIC GROUP
- BLUES
Blue Heaven Blues Band
Buddy Emmer Blues Band
Busking By Moonlite
Guitar Woody and The Boilers Featuring Melanie Perl
Jason King Band – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Rick Hammond Blues Band
The Blues Monsters
Wabuska Yachting Club - AMERICANA, BLUEGRASS & WORLD MUSIC
Josiah Knight
Kate Cotter
Liam Kyle Cahill
Matthew Axton
Robert Clark & Anthony Vairetta
Seedless 10DenC
Todd Green
Tyler Stafford – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Wheatstone Bridge - METAL, THRASH & PUNK ROCK
Cyanate
From The Ruins
Hollywood Trashed – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Me Time
Murderock
Rob Ford Explorer
Sinicle
Walk Away Alpha
We Predict a Riot
Weight of The Tide - R&B, FUNK & SOUL
Elements of Truth
Jelly Bread – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
M8TRIX
Mojo Green
The Sextones - HARD & HEAVY ROCK
Alisha Sadler – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Atlas Frame
Authmentis
Changing The Design/Alan Griffith
Dead Letter Disciple
HAFDED
Krosphyer
Newbound
Seasons of Insanity
Stonedaddy
The Electric - COUNTRY
Country Artist Tribute – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Greg Austin
Hellbound Glory
PCGB
Sil Shoda
Spur Crazy
The Whiskey Heroes
Vista
Wheatstone Bridge - JAZZ
First Take featuring Rick Metz – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Grace Hayes
New World Jazz Project
Nico’s Mystery
Reno Jazz Orchestra - POP
Baker Street Band
CRUSH – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
D’RoxX Project
Nick Eng
Roxxy Collie
Simply The Best
Stabby Unicorn
The Derailment
The Novelists - ROCK
Bazooka Zoo
Drinking With Clowns
Metal Billy Tucker
Michael Furlong
Moondog Matinee
Reno Rock Camp – FORTE’ RECIPIENT
Rigorous Proof
Schitzopolitans
The Grimtones
Tragedy Spring
Vague Choir
