ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Dieruff High School student is aiming high after recently earning a summer scholarship to a New York arts school.
Faith Gross, who will soon be a junior, won the scholarship to the New York Film Academy after receiving three callbacks during talent auditions in Orlando, FL. The partial discount is for one of its short-term programs, including its summer camp programs. Jennifer Gross, Faith’s mom, said the scholarship will allow Faith to spend up to six weeks at the school to help prepare to audition for formal admission into the academy.
- Dieruff student Faith Gross won a partial scholarship to a summer program at New York Film Academy
- Gross said she loves performing in musicals
- Mom said her daughter has been acting since seven years old
Jennifer said there were more than a dozen talent agencies there and two colleges at the Orlando auditions.
“There were some moments where I was doubting myself, but then I had to remember that everybody was specifically chosen to be there."Dieruff Hight School student Faith Gross
Faith auditioned for a film scene, a TV commercial and performed a song. She said one of the call backs was from a music producer and that the competition during the Orlando audition process was fierce, but all who tried out won something.
“Everybody there was extremely talented,” Faith said. “There were some moments where I was doubting myself, but then I had to remember that everybody was specifically chosen to be there and everybody’s going to get a chance anyways.”
Faith was invited to Orlando after she answered an audition advertisement in September through Applause International, a talent consulting firm, and did an initial audition in Philadelphia, Jennifer said.
Faith said she has been acting since she was 7 years old and competing in scholarship beauty pageants since around 10 years old. She said Faith started performing musicals through a church and through Sing for America, a nonprofit theater company that raises money for military families. Annie was one of the musicals she performed in through the church.
"I literally saw her transform on that stage," Jennifer said. "I didn't see Faith on stage, I saw the orphan; she was one of the orphans."
Faith played Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical at Dieruff this year and she was chosen to participate in the opening and closing musical numbers at the Freddy Awards in May. She enjoys musical theater the best.
“I like stepping outside of my own person and being somebody else,” Faith said.
Faith is looking forward to auditioning for some leading roles when school starts again in the fall and wants to pursue a career as a performer.
