Announcing the 2026 Emerging Artist
Grand Prize Winners

ABRIELLE SCHARFF

Hailing from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, this vocal powerhouse blends a childhood of classic rock influences with the musical legacy of her great-grandmother, Carol Richards. She has since commanded international stages from London to New York, opening for acclaimed artists like Patty Griffin and Ruston Kelly. Her impressive trajectory is highlighted by a top-ten finish in the Brandi Carlile Cover Stories Contest and appearances at major global festival.

NATALIE BONFINI

A blues-driven powerhouse and award-winning songwriter, Natalia honed her captivating storytelling skills busking in Provincetown before rising to the Top 50 on American Idol. Following the release of her intimate EP, Beyond the Broken Pieces, she has solidified her status as a premier performer, sharing stages with icons such as Bruce Springsteen, Allen Stone, and Joe Louis Walker.

Emerging Artist Grant Winners
(to perform at the Chestnut Street pre-show celebration):

DOM THE COMPOSER

Dom the Composer is a Boston area-based Haitian-American singer-songwriter with a mission: to make music with some rhythm, a little bit of blues, and a whole lotta soul. Starting his musical journey in the All Saints Choir of Men & Boys in Ashmont, Dom draws inspiration from these early beginnings and mixes elements from some of his current favorite artists like Bill Withers, Daniel Caesar, Moonchild, Thirdstory, Lawrence, Mac Ayres, Jacob Collier, and Lizzy McAlpine. He hopes to inspire vulnerability, joy, and self-reflection with every note and every word that he can.

TYLER LEVS

Tyler Levs is an independent singer-songwriter and live music performer from Maine USA. While navigating soft folk, acoustic rock and catchy pop hooks Tyler has continued to grow as an artist across the internet and in the New England area.

Full-time as of 2019, he has streamed almost 9,000 hours on Twitch.TV, uploaded 300+ one take covers to Youtube, released original music in multiple genres on all streaming platforms, performed at the San Diego and Las Vegas Twitch Conventions, started a duo band with his songwriting partner Joliet4 (called MUTU4L) and continues to perfect his craft as a guitarist, loopstation artist and producer.

Tyler has performed at multiple bars and restaurants, private parties, as a supporting act for O-Town and at the New England music awards where he was also nominated and won Maine’s Rising Artist.

HENRY HONKONEN

Henry Honkonen is an artist, songwriter, and producer from Southern Maine, now based in Nashville, Tennessee. With over 500,000 followers across platforms, he’s quickly building a movement rooted in authenticity and faith.


As an artist, Henry embodies two sides of one creative soul — Hen, the intimate folk storyteller, and Honk, the bold alternative rock energy. Together, they reflect his mission to spread love, hope, and truth through music that connects deeply with people everywhere.


Grounded in purpose and driven by heart, Henry is creating songs that inspire a growing faith-based community and aim to make the world a more loving place, one song at a time.
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Previous Emerging Artist Grant Winners

About the Emerging Artist Grant Program

The Music Hall is proud to announce a new grant program that will support young aspiring artists who need a kick-start to beginning their performance career. With proceeds from the Emerging Artist Benefit Concert, we are able to offer aid that is critical for aspiring musicians to fulfill their performance aspirations. By awarding two $2500 grants to musicians actively performing contemporary music, we can support the projects that will contribute to their professional development. This financial support can allow artists to secure live performance opportunities, recording/studio time, produce music video content, and develop marketing assets and/or strategies. In addition to the financial support, The Music Hall team will help make valuable connections with industry professionals for grant recipients.

Even more exciting, the two musicians selected will both be invited to open for Jason Mraz at this year’s Emerging Artist Benefit Concert!!!

Eligibility

Submissions are currently limited to individuals or duos who are: 

  • Actively performing contemporary music
  • Not signed to a major label or a major booking agency
  • A current resident of a New England state, or has 5+ years of previous residency in New England.
  • At least 18 years of age, or has written consent from parent/guardian.
  • Legally able to receive taxable income in the United States.

Criteria for Selection

All applications are reviewed and evaluated by The Music Hall’s Emerging Artist committee, comprised of Music Hall employees, board members, and select members chosen by the curatorial team. 

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Quality of the artist’s creative works submitted
  • Level of alignment with the vision of The Music Hall’s Emerging Artist Series
  • Feasibility of the proposed project within the parameters of the grant

Application Process

Submissions for this year’s emerging artist grant have closed.

Reporting

The Music Hall requests that grant recipients share the impact of the award.

Accessibility

No person on the basis of race, color, national origin or ancestry, native language, disability, age, religion (creed), gender or gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, or military status shall be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subject to discrimination of services, programs and employment provided by The Music Hall.

 

A special thank you to Karen & David Della Penta for underwriting the Emerging Artist Grant.