Ever wonder what it takes to be an artist in NYC? At Sing for Hope’s most recent Saturday Series, students got the answer to that very question from Volunteer Artists Amanda de Souza, Valerie Salgado, and Lawrence Stallings. The packed house, comprised of Sing for Hope Youth Chorus members and students from the Joffrey Ballet, posed enough questions for the threesome to make the two hour workshop full of helpful information. The Volunteer Artists agreed that one of the most rewarding things about being an artist is that they get to meet and work with so many talented people. Some other tidbits shared with the young students was to continuously hone your craft through constant learning. It’s a key to success. But in order to survive in between gigs, it’s equally important to learn other skills to keep you going. Sing for Hope's Saturday Series is a free monthly workshop for students in a multitude of artistic disciplines. Each month, a different Volunteer Artist leads an exploratory session in their field, exposing students to music, dance, acting, visual art, and more. As a companion to other Sing for Hope programs, the Saturday Series is a dynamic and informative way to engage young people year round. To learn more about the Saturday Series email [email protected]. AMANDA DE SOUZA currently works and resides in New York City, working as a full-time artist and Senior Graphic Designer for W Magazine. VALERIE SALGADO is a faculty member at Broadway Dance Center, New York City. Recently, she was the assistant choreographer for the NBC series “SMASH” produced by Steven Spielberg. She has worked one on one with stars such as Megan Hilty, Uma Thurman, Katharine McPhee, and Debra Messing, to name a few. LAWRENCE STALLINGS is a Broadway actor currently in Book of Mormon. Other credits include Hair, Passing Strange, Sam Cooke: Forever My Soul, Life is a Dream, and many more.