Sarah Lonsert

Teen Phenom Singer/Songwriter/Actress, Sarah Lonsert, Lights Up the Red Carpet at the Paramount
Sarah showed the reason she is a Teen Phenom Nov. 18th at the Los Angeles Music Awards on the Paramount Lot. The young teen was poised and elegant as she was interviewed.
Los Angeles, Ca. (PRWEB) December 2, 2010

Teen Phenom Sarah Lonsert has broken all kinds of records within the music community. In 2009 she was the youngest 1st Place and Grand Prize Winner of the USA Songwriting Contest. She was also the youngest recipient of the Los Angeles Music Award Singer/Songwriter of the Year. 2010 has been another amazing year for this young entertainer who has overcome amazing odds. Diagnosed with Aspergher's in the third grade, Sarah would sing or write about her feelings rather than talk about them. This year she has had a song placed in a Web series and another song in a short film. If that wasn't enough she was chosen by her home town to be the keynote speaker at their annual Walk Against Drugs. Sarah also designed the shirt that was worn by thousands of walkers. She gave her speech to a crowd of 3 to 4 thousand people, then performed later in the day. To top of all of those wonderful happenings Sarah was also recognized with a Malibu Music Award in September. Tonight is receiving an award for her first CD called "Dreams and Poetry". It is a collaboration of songs with Duane Thomas. The Teen Phenom said of the evening at the Paramount, "Winning the 2010 Los Angeles Music Award for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year was the most MAGICAL feeling in the whole world."

Throughout the evening the young teen was poised, confident and humble. She was interviewed and had pictures taken of her constantly until she went inside to present Sally Kirkland her Lifetime Achievement Award. She then emerged from the theater and was asked again to do more interviews and have her picture taken. She was very gracious and granted the requests. When asked what she is working on for 2011 there were amazing goals. Sarah replied that she will have her first fictional novel finished before the year ends and published by early 2011. She is also working on lyrics for another Los Angeles Music Award Recipient Adriano Aponte from Italy. Another CD is in the works, with 4 songs already written and recorded. A singing tour in Europe has been also talked about. With so much happening in her life is is a wonder that she still has time for academics. Sarah graduated high school 2 years early and has enough college credits to be a junior. She is rightfully called a Teen Phenom!


- PR Web

The day begins with a motivational rally featuring keynote speaker: 17 year old Sarah Lonsert. Her accomplishments include being named Singer/Songwriter of the 2009 L.A. Music Awards, recent Grand Prize Winner in the USA Song writing Competition and overcoming autism. - City of Mission Viejo

Debbie Gibson meets the Jonas Brothers - Music Connection Magazine October 2010 Issue pg 60

Teen Phenom - Music Connection Magazine February 2010 Issue pg 29

(Billboard Publicity Wire/PRWEB ) January 20, 2010 -- Teen phenom Sarah Lonsert won the Overall Grand Prize of the 14th Annual USA Songwriting Competition along with co-writers Jonathan George and Jami Templeton. Her winning song “Dancing Through Life” will be on the USA Songwriting Competition's compilation CD this year. Sarah is only 17 years old and she not only broke the first prize record of being the youngest winner but also the overall grand prize winner of being the youngest winner ever. The previous youngest first prize winner was Kate Voegele, who won in 2005 at 18 years old. Adrianne Gonzalez was the youngest overall grand prize winner at 22 years old when she won in 1999. Sarah also won first prize in the Dance/Electronica category, making her the first from that category to ever win the overall grand prize. Sarah Lonsert will be releasing a full length CD this year. Although Sarah suffers from autism, she is a budding singer-songwriter and has also won an award at the L.A. Music Awards last year.

Sarah Lonsert, Overall Grand Prize Winner, 14th Annual USA Songwriting Competition
Sarah Lonsert, Overall Grand Prize Winner, 14th Annual USA Songwriting Competition

"It seems to be a competition that draws a solid talent base", said Kirk Boyer, A&R Director at Lyric Street Records
Eric Colville (from Ipswich, MA) won the overall second prize and Anne Simoni (from Brazil) won the overall third prize. This year also marks the first time that USA Songwriting Competition had two winners from Spain. Ariel Queupumil from Guadalajara, Spain won the first prize in the Latin Category while Eduardo de la Iglesia Nieto from Madrid, Spain won the First Prize in the instrumental category. Nicole Morier and Fabien Waltman from Los Angeles won the first prize in the Pop category. Nicole is has written songs for Britney Spears and is also an artist. Other winners came from Indonesia, Canada, Australia, Norway and Denmark.

Entries are currently being accepted for the 2010 15th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. Winning songs of the 15th Annual USA Songwriting Competition will receive airplay on a nationally syndicated radio program “Acoustic Café” as well as Sirius XM Satellite Radio. This is the first Songwriting Competition that gives airplay to the winning songs, giving deserving bands, songwriters the recognition and exposure they deserve. Entrants stand to win a grand prize of over US$50,000 in cash and music gear from sponsors such as Sony, D’Addario Strings, Ibanez Guitars, Audio-Technica, IK Multimedia, and more, making this the largest prize package for any annual songwriting competition.

Many USA Songwriting Competition winners in the past have received recording and publishing contracts, have their songs placed on the charts as well as having their songs placed on film and television. 2005 First Prize winner (Pop) Kate Voegele was signed to MySpace/Interscope Records the year after she won and had her winning song hit top 40 on the Billboard Charts, her latest album hit Top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album charts this summer. 2007 Overall Grand Prize Winner Ari Gold had his winning song “Where The Music Takes You” hit #10 on the Billboard Dance Charts. Darrell Scott, winner of the country category of the 2005 USA Song writing Competition had his winning song "Good Ol USA" cut by award winning country singer Faith Hill and the song was renamed “We've Got Nothing But Love to Prove.” Also, Kyler England, 2009 first prize winner just got signed to Universal Records. Judges include A&R managers from record labels such as Warner, Capitol Records, Universal, BMG/SONY Music. "It seems to be a competition that draws a solid talent base", said Kirk Boyer, A&R director at Lyric Street Records. "A healthy and important competition, good outlet for creative people", said Andy Karp, Executive VP/Head of A&R, Atlantic Records.

Sponsors include Sony, Audio-Technica, Ibanez Guitars, D'Addario Strings, New Music Weekly, and Guitar Player Magazine. Songs may be entered in 15 different categories including Pop, Rock/Alternative, R&B and Country. Entries are accepted from now through May 28, 2010. For more information, visit: http://www.songwriting.net

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LOS ANGELES - Sarah Lonsert took her first step onto the red carpet.

Flashbulbs popped and cameras rolled as the 17-year-old from Mission Viejo humbly stared down at her high heels.
Article Tab : Sarah Lonsert, 17, of Mission Viejo receives an award for Best Female Singer/Songwriter for her song
Sarah Lonsert, 17, of Mission Viejo receives an award for Best Female Singer/Songwriter for her song "Romeo" at the Avalon in Hollywood during the 19th annual Los Angeles Music Awards on Thursday, November 12, 2009.
ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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A crowd had gathered, already a few rows deep, outside of the Avalon in Hollywood, where the Los Angeles Music Awards were held Thursday night.

Lonsert looked up, her concentration on the floor broken when a reporter called her over to give her first interview as the 2009 Female Singer/Songwriter of the year and the youngest recipient of such an honor in the production's 19-year-run.

Just winning the award at her age is a merit on its own, but to do it in the manner Lonsert has – by using her love of music to combat the social awkwardness and fits of rage brought on by high-functioning autism – makes her moment in the spotlight all the more rewarding.

"People who have autism feel held back," Lonsert said before accepting her award. "Just because I'm autistic doesn't hinder my right to go after what I want."

And go after it she did.

She submitted her song, "Romeo," a flirty, operatic pop number, earlier this year just to see what would happen.

She would stand out among thousands of submitters, tackling a veteran's vocal performance with ease, show producer Al Bowman said.

"When I put my submission in, I had to forget about it because it was just like another audition," Lonsert said. "When I was nominated, that was like winning for me. (Actually winning) is like dying and going to heaven."

The Saddleback College student not only took home her own award but presented one to director and producer James Dudelson for his career achievements including work on "Creepshow 3" and "The Day of the Dead."

"She's the most charming girl I've ever met," Dudelson said. "She was excited to meet me, and I'm excited to meet her."

In contemplating a speech she planned to give, Lonsert turned to a white piece of paper, slightly wrinkled from being folded and unfolded so many times. On it was written a list of people she wanted to thank, including family, friends and God. In the end, she accepted her award among a group of 20 without making a speech. - Orange County Register November 12, 2009

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ 2009 USA Songwriting Competition)) - Teen phenom Sarah Lonsert won the Overall Grand Prize of the 14th Annual USA Songwriting Competition along with co-writer Jonathan George. Her winning song "Dancing Through Life" will be on the USA Songwriting Competition's compilation CD next year. Sarah Lonsert, only 17 years old, not only shattered the first prize record of being the youngest winner but also the overall grand prize winner of being the youngest winner ever. The previous youngest first prize winner was Kate Voegele, who won in 2005 at 18 years old. Adrianne Gonzalez was the youngest overall grand prize winner at 22 years old when she won in 1999. Sarah also won first prize in the Dance/Electronica category, making her the first from that category to ever win the overall grand prize. Sarah Lonsert will be releasing a full length CD earlier next year. Although Sarah suffers from autism, she is a budding singer-songwriter and has also won the L.A. Music Awards last month. - New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ 2009

y, October 2, 2009
Mission Viejo teen faces 'super-special' chance
16-year-old with autism has a shot at singer/songwriter award.
By NIYAZ PIRANI
The Orange County Register
Comments 6 | Recommend 7

MISSION VIEJO - Sarah Lonsert knew exactly how to describe what it felt like to be nominated, from a field of nearly 1,000 people, for a prestigious music award.

"Super-special-awesome!" the 16-year-old said, so quickly that the words jumbled into one. "When my mom told me I was like, 'You're kidding right?' I didn't believe her."

Lonsert is not only the youngest artist to be nominated in the Los Angeles Music Awards 19-year-run – in the Female Singer/Songwriter category for her song "Romeo" – but she's done it by channeling a lifelong developmental disability into an awe-inspiring gift.

In the third grade she was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome – also referred to as high-functioning autism – and has dealt with social awkwardness and unexplainable fits of rage since she was a child.

She doesn't get along with kids her own age and relates much better with her elders, said her mother, Michelle. She would be violent, stay alone for hours, and exhibit super-human strength for her size.

The only thing that would calm her down and help her focus would be to sing.

She began singing along to her favorite artists but when she got older she honed her talents in community musical theater. In 2008 she auditioned for singer Deborah Gibson's Electric Youth Camp, was accepted, and participated in both summer and winter sessions.

"I would bring in my poems to her and she would play a chord, and then another chord and we'd make up a melody and go from there," Lonsert recalled. "When she and I did it, I really learned about writing songs."

Her lyrics focus on teenage quandaries – like friendship and boys – but with a lyrical maturity uncommon for her young age. She's said she's equally inspired by Kelly Clarkson and "The Phantom of the Opera" and calls her style of music "popera."

"It's just something inside my soul," she said while curling her fingers into opposing "C's," making a heart shape with her hands. "It helps me tell people what I want to tell them because I'm not really smooth with my words."

Lonsert will be at the mercy of the judges come Thursday, when she performs at the Whisky-a-Go-Go for the Los Angeles Music Awards voting ceremony. A panel of judges, with help from the crowd, will decide by listening to selective live performances and 30-second samples of every nominee who will win an award in November.

"I've never heard somebody who can create melodies at that age, at that kind of skill level," said Al Bowman, founder and producer of the awards. "I evaluate music every day and the older I get the less easy it is to impress me."

Lonsert's level manner belies the passion for her music that comes through when she's on stage. She speaks of the upcoming competition in a matter-of-fact way, and struggles to describe what it might feel like to win.

"I'd have to win in order to figure out how I would feel," she said. "We'd have an ice-cream party for like, three days."

"It would feel even better than super-special-awesome."

Contact the writer: 949-454-7352 or npirani@ocregister.com
- Orange County Register October 2, 2009