The 26th Annual "Young Artist Awards" Honors Rock Violinist Antonio Pontarelli for “Outstanding Young Rock Musician”

May 5, 2005 -- The 26th Annual Young Artist Awards honored 14 year old musical prodigy Antonio Pontarelli with the “Outstanding Young Rock Musician” award. Antonio who was crowned the grand champion of NBC’s PAX TV “America’s Most Talented Kids” earlier this year also gave a special performance that left the audience mesmerized on his 6-string electric Viper Violin. The Young Artist Awards is held annually to honor and reward deserving young actors, actresses and entertainers and to provide international recognition for superb achievement through Special Honoree Awards in the television and film industries. Other of the top winners included "That’s So Raven” (Disney Channel) starring Raven-Symone, Miracle Run and Reba. Past nominees and winners who have attended have included Leonardo DiCaprio, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Christina Applegate, Tori Spelling, Gary Coleman, Shannon Doherty, Mario Lopez, John Stamos, Hillary Duff, Lindsey Lohan, Scarlett Pomers and Jamie Lynn Spears.

The buzz surrounding Antonio in the world of music entertainment is not new. He won his first of eight string competitions when he was barely 7 and composed for FOX TV, national television at age 11. He is currently the Concert Master of the San Diego Youth Symphony Symphonic Orchestra and a first violinist for the Young Musician's Foundation National Debut Orchestra. He is the national 2004-2005 winner of the ASTA (America String Teachers Association) Alternative Styles Award as a rock/blues violinist. He has performed jazz, classical and rock violin in concerts with many Grammy and Emmy winners including: Mark O’Connor, Richie Cole (Manhattan Transfer), Marshall Hawkins (Miles Davis) and Mark Wood (Trans –Siberian Orchestra), Brian Torf (Stephane Grappelli) as well as major orchestras such as the San Diego Symphony. He has opened for Billy Preston and the Ray Charles Lifetime Achievement Award. Antonio is currently collaborating as a jazz and rock violinist with several major rock and jazz bands as well as pouring his passion into his CD, “Under Age” which will be released later this year.

Additional information about Antonio including media files can be viewed by logging onto http://www.antoniomusic.com.