Loch Raven 7th Grader Competing In National Talent Search

TOWSON, MD – A 7th-grade student at Loch Raven Technical Academy is a contestant in a national talent search, and she needs online votes. She's competing in the regional portion of the contest, which will determine who gets to move on to the national competition in Los Angeles.

Ethan Bortnick, 18, is hosting the new show on PBS. Called "Celebration of Music, it will feature bands, singers, dancers and musicians ages 4 to 25 years old.

Avery Markakis, who is in 7th grade at Loch Raven Technical Academy, is among 24 contestants in the regional contest for the Baltimore area, which draws from areas well outside the city — D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, across Maryland and Virginia.

Markakis is in the performing arts magnet program at Loch Raven Technical Academy and is a former Baltimore School of Rock student, according to her biography, which also says she studies dance at Underground Dance Academy in Essex.

People can vote online for Markakis.

The two regional winners of the Celebration of Music competition will be announced during a concert at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Gordon Center for Performing Arts in Owings Mills.

Tickets for the concert are available online. Use the code CELEBRATE for a $10 discount on the ticket price.