AMS Panel
AMS is currently finalizing additional collaborators for our 2021 panel.
Their pics/bios will be posted shortly!
Eliza Bokman, Music Director and Founding Member
Eliza Bokman is the Music Director and founding member of American Music Stars. She was exposed to music performance at the young age of 5, when she began piano lessons. Excelling immediately and subsequently being accepted to the International School of Music, Dance, Art, and Sport, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Eliza began to develop a passion for classical music performance. By 12 years old she was accepted into the studio of world renown pianist and distinguished professor Dr. Lydia Boguslavsky, as well as the Mark Twain Middle School for the Gifted and Talented. Throughout her teenage years, Eliza continued to perform and later decided to purse a career in music and music education. In those several years prior to beginning studies for her Bachelor of Music Degree at Rowan University, some of Eliza Bokman’s accomplishments included First Prize at the Young Artist International Competition, Silver and Bronze medals at the Z’ecchino D’oro Music Competition, and performances with some of the world’s most renowned artists such as Levon Oganezov and Dr. Gennady Kupisok. While studying at Rowan under the chair of the Piano Department, Professor Veda Zuponcic, she received medals and honors in the NJMTA Piano Competitions. She also had the pleasure of performing with the distinguished St. Petersburg String Quartet and take master classes with some of the world’s most notable pianists such as Tatiana Werkina, former Director at the Kiev Conservatory in Ukraine, and Naum Shtarkman, famous concert pianist and recording artist. Ms. Bokman's extensive accompaniment experience of both vocalists and instrumentalists continued when she was invited by Professor Zuponcic to participate for 5 seasons in the Northern Lights Music Festival both in N.J. and Minnesota. While there, she gave numerous solo and chamber ensemble performances.​
Following the completion of her Bachelors Degree in Piano Performance, Ms. Bokman went on to graduate with a Masters Degree from Manhattan School of Music under Professor Nina Svetlanova and the completed a second Master's Degree at Columbia University. During and after her under graduate and graduate studies, Eliza held large private piano and vocal studio. She is currently the General Music Teacher and Choir Director at Taylor Mills Elementary School in Manalapan, N.J. With an enormous passion for all musical arts, Eliza continues to pursue her passion of music education and making opportunities for both adults and children to perform in some of the most prestigious venues in the North East and virtually. Eliza Bokman is an active concert pianist, teacher, and also the founding member and Musical Director of the Young Maestro International Competition, currently in its 10th year/season, with concert events in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in NYC.
Stephen Dent, Senior Sound Engineer, Producer, and Collaborator
Stephen Dent is the Senior Engineer and Studio Lead at Studio to Stage Productions where he will be working with our 2021 Season winners on their demo tracks. Stephen worked as the Managing Director of Daddy's House Recording Studio from 2004 until August 2011. Stephen handled all the daily operations of a state of the art recording and production facility with a staff of 22. He also continued to freelance on a variety of projects. He worked with Fatman Scoop on a UK version of Making the Band called Chancers and also has worked with Black Entertainment Television (BET) providing sound editing, audio mixing and audio sweetening services for shows like Access Granted, 106 & Park, and Rap City, Summer Splash, Spring Bling, Lionel Richie Live, John Legend Live, a variety of shows and events. He has consulted in design and building a Recording studios and production houses.
He has also has prided himself on helping upstart artist, writers, producers, production companies, and record labels to get the proper start in the music industry by advising and consulting with them.
Stephen has had the pleasure of working with 50 Cent, Blaque, Nas, Neptunes, Kid Capri, TLC, Donell Jones, Puff Johnson, Brian McKnight, and AZ to name a few. He was twice recognized by the Grammy committee for his work as engineer; on the Grammy nominated album, “Harlem World" by Bad Boy Recording artist MASE and before that the Grammy winning Rap Album of The Year, “No Way Out" by Puff Daddy and the Family.
RO-MiNA, Internationally Recognized Recording Artist and Adjudicator
RO-MiNA was born in country of Uzbekistan. RO-MiNA knew from a very early age that to be an entertainer was her calling. Named after a famous Italian singer, merely a preschooler, she would often watch the singer’s concerts with her parents. RO-MiNA acknowledges that this is when she discovered she felt an inevitable connection to music like no other.
At the age of 5, RO-MiNA and family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There RO-MiNA further pursued her ambition of becoming a performer. After years of preparation, RO-MiNA’s pursuit of being a viable recording artist and entertainer came full throttle with the release of her debut single titled “Insane”. The single, released in winter of 2016, climbed the Billboard Dance Charts to number 13 and remained in the TOP 25 for more than five weeks affording RO-MiNA recognition with top DJ’s globally as well as world wide acclaim in the dance world.
The video to her follow up release, “Queen Of The Night”, was done in collaboration with producer Spencer Graves and director, Sasha Samsonova. The song and the visual were equally astonishing. Graves, a renowned Los Angeles-based art director with a remarkable list of clientele such as Meghan Trainor, Tiesto, The Kills, Justin Bieber and Britney Spears, certainly did not disappoint. Samsonova’s directorial talents equally shines on the production and is creatively on par with her other acclaimed work with Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, Kelly Rowland, Kylie Jenner and many more.
It’s easy to hear how RO-MiNA’s passion and drive resonates in her music. Her attention to detail is unparalleled. A self proclaimed music enthusiast, she’s not only passionate about her music, she is just as passionate about people. Her ultimate goal is to positively move people around the world through the power of song and dance.
In October of 2017, Romina released her new EP “RO”. On this project she proves she is a “one in a million” type of artist. She can move you with her pop dance tracks and then do a 360 and hit you with an authentic urban vibe even spitting some rhythmically challenging rap verses. Her universal appeal is obvious and her commercial appeal is undeniable. RO-MiNA’s appreciation for compelling music transcends genres. On “RO”, RO-MiNA channels her inner urban influences derived from her culturally diverse up-bringing and authentically embodies the R&B & HipHop culture. RO-MiNA thrives in the elements as her music speaks boldly and confidently. With bangers on the EP like “Karma” and “SugaMama” along with the cleverly written “Pinkgold”, it’s no wonder why this musical Chameleon is receiving fanfare from around the entire world.
To listen to RO-MiNA’s latest tracks, visit soundcloud.com/ro-mina-edm. To learn more about RO-MiNA's discography, listen to new music, and watch performances, please visit http://www.ro-mina.com