Rising stars shine at Jazz Fest

This weekend the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival presents the final round of the Rising Star Talent Show.  The three finalists will battle it out for a $5,000 prize and the opportunity to perform at the festival on Sunday. 

The three finalists are Laurin Talese, Victor Shell and Charisa Dowe Rouse. All three have ties to Philadelphia. Talese lives in West Philadelphia and is a graduate of the University of the Arts.  Shell has spent most of his life in North Philadelphia and records out of Express Yourself Studios on Lehigh Avenue.  Dowe Rouse’s bandmembers, parents and husband are all from Philadelphia.

While each contestant hopes to walk away a winner, they all agreed that the experience of competing has itself been rewarding.

The Rising Star Finale takes place at the OARC stage on Friday at 5:45 p.m.