Mentorships
grace the arts is happy to have a board of mentors who are working arts professionals willing to share their knowledge and expertise with grace the arts mentorship winners. To learn more about our mentors, read the bios below.

Singer/Vocalist
Taylor Kelly
Born and raised in Rochester, NY, Taylor Kelly is now a fixture in the vibrant Philadelphia music scene further honing her introspective take on jazz, soul, and funk. She combines her smooth, powerful, technically-informed voice with a full horn section, addictive hip hop and electronic beats, and complex arrangements. Her sound is a dynamic blend of several genres but ultimately establishes a strikingly authentic niche all its own, rich with melodic contour, intricate harmonies, and deeply personal but anthemic lyricism. A Berklee College of Music graduate, Kelly has released five albums/EPs and has shared the stage with St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Moonchild, Becca Stevens, Monophonics, Neal Francis and Georgia Anne Muldrow. She has amassed over half a million listens for her single “California” on streaming platforms worldwide and has uplifted, inspired and energized thousands of ardent concertgoers at hundreds of live shows with immersively freeing performance style. Kelly has an unyielding, marrow-deep commitment to self-expression through music and has continued to transfer this passion to her listeners and audiences with her EP, ‘All I Need’. The first single, “Maybe” was featured on Chicago’s Vocalo Radio in November 2021 where she was also interviewed. Through years of trial and error and learning the ins and outs of what it takes to be a successful musician and bandleader, Taylor offers one-on-one mentorships, master classes and private lessons for voice, trumpet, songwriting and music industry (e.g. booking shows and tours, bandleading and self-promotion). Taylor has been a one-woman show since 2012, running the business that is “Taylor Kelly”. She takes pride in being able to share her vast knowledge with those that are interested in a career in music or simply interested in getting better at their instrument or building confidence. Because if you don’t believe in yourself, who will? “Kelly holds immense power with her voice - both delicate and mighty with each word sung. Her cadence and style stir listeners and provides them with comfort and warmth.” - Adrian Vargas, Atwood Magazine “Kelly is originally from Rochester, NY but her sound is rooted in glamourous jazz club scene of New York City, Chicago or Philadelphia .. Her voice echoes that of Eryn Allen Kane, Lianne La Havas, or the indomitable Cecile McLorin Savant, while her writing is all her own.” - Izzy Lopez, WXPN “Watching American Idol religiously during my adolescence made me believe that I could hear the “it” factor Simon Cowell often spoke of … Today, I still like to think my skills in that regard are sharp because when I heard Taylor Kelly I thought, she’s got IT.” - Kendra Beltran, ZO Magazine

Singer/Dancer/Actress
Olivia Fabian
Olivia Fabian grew up in Rochester, NY. She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in May of 2021 with a double major in Dance and Biomedical Sciences. At Marymount she trained in ballet and modern styles; O’Donnell, Nikolais, Graham, Limon and Horton, in addition to taking several pedagogy, somatic, and mind body connection classes. She furthered her training currently at the Institute for American Musical Theatre’s 2-year professional training program in NYC where she took classes in musical theatre dance, hip-hop, jazz, tap, ballet and modern, as well as acting and vocal lessons. Olivia has participated in several dance summer programs including the Joffrey Ballet School Jazz and Contemporary Intensive NYC, Dance Masters of America SHIP program and the Commercial Dance Intensive both as a student and as a work study. She works as an artist and residency at A Touch of Dance in Rochester when she is not performing, auditioning, or taking classes in her new home in New York City.