The 2017 GigMasters Rising Star Award winners represent the top-booked entertainers and party vendors in the U.S. and Canada.
The awards are distributed annually to those members who have earned the most revenue from GigMasters bookings.
Most Popular Children's Party Entertainer | Costume Characters & More | Boston | Massachusetts |
Most Popular Corporate Event Entertainer | Las Vegas Elvis Impersonators and Showgirls | Las Vegas | Nevada |
Most Popular Wedding Band | Those Guys | Waterbury | Connecticut |
Most Popular Wedding DJ | DJ Buddy Holly | San Francisco | California |
Most Popular Wedding Entertainer | Atlantic String Ensemble | Los Angeles | California |
Most Popular Wedding Variety Entertainer | Caricatures By Diane | Oceanside | California |
Top A Cappella Group | Arete Singers | San Francisco | California |
Top Accordionist | Benjamin Ickies | New York City | New York |
Top Acoustic Band | Dan Walker | Madbury | New Hampshire |
Top Acoustic Duo | Los Deux | Los Angeles | California |
Top Acoustic Guitar | Lou Peragine | Lindenhurst | New York |
Top Acoustic Trio | Lilac Wine | Atlanta | Georgia |
Top Animals For Parties Company | Mobile Zoo Of Southern California | Palm Springs | California |
Top Astrologer | Sister Glo Knows | Houston | Texas |
Top Auctioneer | Jay Cash, THE Auctioneer | Nashville | Tennessee |
Top Bagpiper | I Pipe It-Bagpiper for Hire | Fresno | California |
Top Balloon Twister | SuperNovA | West Nyack | New York |
Top Banjo Player | Richard Stillman | Montclair | New Jersey |
Top Barbershop Quartet | Barbershop Quartets USA | Las Vegas | Nevada |
Top Beach Band | Koka Philips | Middletown | New Jersey |
Top Beach Music Singer | Kai Kalama | San Juan Capistrano | California |
Top Big Band | South Coast Swing | Laguna Hills | California |
Top Big Band Singer | Matt Walch-Singing The Big Band Standards | Ann Arbor | Michigan |
Top Bluegrass Band | Four Bridges | Plymouth | Massachusetts |
Top Blues Band | The Special 20s | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Brass Band | The Demolition Brass Band | New York City | New York |
Top Brass Ensemble | Chamberlain Brass | New York City | New York |
Top Broadway Band | King's Jazz Quintet | Minneapolis | Minnesota |
Top Cabaret Dancer | Cabaret/burlesque/fire Performer Aisha | Fair Lawn | New Jersey |
Top Caricaturist | Caricatures and Silhouettes by Darci Herbold | Laguna Niguel | California |
Top Cellist | Boston Muza: Solo & Chamber Ensemble Event Music | Boston | Massachusetts |
Top Children's Music Band | Joy and The Toys | Flanders | New Jersey |
Top Children's Music Singer | Zev Haber | New Rochelle | New York |
Top Children's Music Singer | Aaron Short Children's Singer | Woodside | New York |
Top Choral Group | THE LATE SHOW'S GOSPEL CHOIR | New York City | New York |
Top Christmas Carolers | The Clarion Voices | Lansdowne | Pennsylvania |
Top Circus Performer | Firestorm Talent & Entertainment | Los Angeles | California |
Top Classical Band | YACHTY BY NATURE - Yacht Rock cover band | Los Angeles | California |
Top Classical Duo | Grace Note Strings ~ Weddings, Beach & Church | Stone Harbor | New Jersey |
Top Classical Quartet | Musical Heart Strings | Martinez | California |
Top Classical Singer | Stephanie Wright | Laguna Niguel | California |
Top Classical Trio | Amethyst Trio | San Francisco | California |
Top Clown | Sassi The Clown And Sassi Entertainment Unlimited | New York City | New York |
Top Comedian | Moody McCarthy | Syracuse | New York |
Top Comedy Group | Improv Unlimited - Clean Corporate Comedy & Shows | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Costumed Character | Nationwide Santas | Diamond Bar | California |
Top Country Band | Buck Ford Pure Country Band | Vacaville | California |
Top Country Duo | October Rose | Riverdale | New Jersey |
Top Country Singer | Robert Abernathy-Acoustic/Live Entertainment | Birmingham | Alabama |
Top Cover Band | THE TRIP | Anaheim | California |
Top Dance Band | Those Guys | Waterbury | Connecticut |
Top Dance Group | Jumpin Entertainment - Swing & Lindy Hop | New York City | New York |
Top Dancer | Liz Watts And Company | Los Angeles | California |
Top DJ | Supermix Entertainment | Queens Village | New York |
Top Dueling Pianos | Ted Oliver Productions | Waukesha | Wisconsin |
Top Elvis Impersonator | Las Vegas Elvis Impersonators and Showgirls | Las Vegas | Nevada |
Top Emcee | Chuck Dukas Live Event Emcee and Auctioneer | Studio City | California |
Top Emcee | Monica Bassi | New York City | New York |
Top Event Artist | Sylhouettes By Sylvia-Silhouette Portrait Artist | Fullerton | California |
Top Event Planning | Nicole Harris - Luxury Event Planner | Los Angeles | California |
Top Event Services | Photo Booth Parties | Suffern | New York |
Top Event Staffing | C R E M E D E L A C R E M E | Baltimore | Maryland |
Top Face Painting | Lacy Mason | Atlanta | Georgia |
Top Fiddler | Andy Lentz | Oakland | California |
Top Flutist | Jennifer Zhang - Chinese Instrumentalist & Singer | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Folk Band | The Local Boys | Wilkesboro | North Carolina |
Top Folk Singer | Allison Preisinger | Seattle | Washington |
Top Fortune Teller | Gypsy | New York City | New York |
Top Funk Band | Fantasy Band ft. Lady Patice & Motown Reflections | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Gospel Band | Waymasters | Nashville | Tennessee |
Top Gospel Singer | Lady Peachena | New York City | New York |
Top Guitarist | Tavi Jinariu, Los Angeles Classical Guitarist | Los Angeles | California |
Top Harpist | Sylvia Kowalczuk | Forest Hills | New York |
Top Human Statue | Statue Guy | Johnstown | Ohio |
Top Hypnotist | Hypnotist Jonathan Yeager | Fort Worth | Texas |
Top Illusionist | Edward Stone | Toronto | Ontario |
Top Impersonator | Brian Patrick Mulligan | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
Top Impressionist | John Morgan As President George W. Bush | Orlando | Florida |
Top Jazz Band | The Bailsmen | New York City | New York |
Top Jazz Duo | Gomez and Sadlon | Newtown | Connecticut |
Top Jazz Ensemble | Dan Martin Music | New York City | New York |
Top Jazz Singer | John G. Lewis & The Electrokoustic Band | Washington | District of Columbia |
Top Jazz Trio | Like Minds Trio | New York City | New York |
Top Juggler | Unique Circus Performer - Justin Wood Circus | New York City | New York |
Top Karaoke Band | Rock Band Karaoke | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Keyboardist | David Zipse, Virtuoso Pianist | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
Top Magician | Daniel Nicholas Magic & Mentalism | West Sayville | New York |
Top Marching Band | Patriot Brass New York Marching Band | New York City | New York |
Top Mariachi Band | Mariachi Trio Los Azulado | San Bernardino | California |
Top Marilyn Monroe Impersonator | Camille Terry | Palm Beach | Florida |
Top Mentalist | Jason Suran | New York City | New York |
Top Mime | MIMEALOT, GigMasters' Top Mime | Greenfield | Massachusetts |
Top Mind Reader | Robert Priest | Hagerstown | Maryland |
Top Motown Band | Crystal Clear Band | Marietta | Georgia |
Top Motown Singer | The Sound Of Charles Lee | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania |
Top Oldies Band | The Fabulous Philadelphia Mojo Kings Dance Band | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
Top Oldies Singer | Jennifer Mello | Boston | Massachusetts |
Top One Man Band | Riley Wilson- Guitarist/Vocalist/One Man Band | Dallas | Texas |
Top Opera Singer | Sarah Nordin | Tampa | Florida |
Top Orchestra | Casino Players Orchestra & Sinatra Tribute Show | Cincinnati | Ohio |
Top Organist | Matt Burke | Saint Petersburg | Florida |
Top Palm Reader | MISTER VIBE: 4-Time "Best Entertainer" Winner! | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Percussionist | Robert V | Yonkers | New York |
Top Personal Style | JILL CARMAN | Miami | Florida |
Top Photographer | LUSH LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY & FILM | New York City | New York |
Top Pianist | Shake Rattle & Roll Pianos Solo/Dueling | New York City | New York |
Top Pop Band | Pop Gun Rerun - Live Musical Experience | Newport Beach | California |
Top Pop Duo | Tailored Soul | Lake Worth | Florida |
Top Pop Singer | Tom Cash | Hoffman Estates | Illinois |
Top Pop Trio | ELECTRIA | Louisville | Kentucky |
Top Psychic | Soothsayers Psychic Entertainment By Bethany & Co. | Jenkintown | Pennsylvania |
Top Puppeteer | Quality Entertainment | Valley Village | California |
Top R&B Band | The Sensation Band & DJ Combo | Memphis | Tennessee |
Top R&B Singer | Oya | Beverly Hills | California |
Top Rock Band | Mike Dangeroux Gigmasters' Top Rock Band | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Rock Duo | Not Even Brothers | Spartanburg | South Carolina |
Top Rock Singer | John Seitz | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Roots Band | Folksoul Music Bands--Tattoo And The Folksoul Band | Greenfield | New Hampshire |
Top Saxophonist | K. Chris Knight | Lorton | Virginia |
Top Singer | Kevin Laurence - Pianist, Vocalist, & Entertainer | Miami | Florida |
Top Singer Guitarist | Mike Wilson | Laguna Beach | California |
Top Singing Telegram Company | Artistic Entertainment | Los Angeles | California |
Top Snake Charmer | Snake Charmer Belly Dancer Katia | Los Angeles | California |
Top Soul Band | The Southpaw Preachers | Dallas | Texas |
Top Soul Singer | JMeel | Atlanta | Georgia |
Top Speaker | Chad J. Willett- "Smash the Box" | Columbus | Ohio |
Top Square Dance Caller | Pat Cannon's Foot & Fiddle Dance Co. | Sloatsburg | New York |
Top Steel Drum Band | Feelin IRIE | New York City | New York |
Top Steel Drummer | Sterling C Sample's Island Music Steel drums LLC | East Orange | New Jersey |
Top Stilt Walker | Captain Highwalker | New York City | New York |
Top Storyteller | Queen Emeralda | Atlanta | Georgia |
Top String Quartet | Atlantic String Ensemble | Los Angeles | California |
Top Swing Band | Half-Pack Live!!! | Seattle | Washington |
Top Tarot Card Reader | Readings By Eva | Port Chester | New York |
Top Theme Party Company | Game Show Sensation | Brooklyn | New York |
Top Top 40 Singer | Ariel Rose | Miami | Florida |
Top Transportation Service | Ultimate Party Bus of New England | Boston | Massachusetts |
Top Tribute Act | Sinatra Tribute Show, Starring Matt Snow | Cincinnati | Ohio |
Top Tribute Band | Meet The Beetles | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Tribute Singer | Ben Agro Tribute to Dean Martin/Frank Sinatra | Brantford | Ontario |
Top Trumpeter | Las Vegas Horns | Las Vegas | Nevada |
Top Ukulele Player | Troy Fernandez | Reseda | California |
Top Variety Band | Traveling Riverside Band | Waycross | Georgia |
Top Variety Duo | Roo McGoo | Jersey City | New Jersey |
Top Variety Singer | John Prather | Austin | Texas |
Top Variety Trio | Jeff Perry Trio | Saint Paul | Minnesota |
Top Ventriloquist | Kevin Horner Live: Ventriloquist/Illusionist | Kansas City | Missouri |
Top Videographer | JMPhilms Videography and Photography | Napa | California |
Top Violinist | Sweet Harmony ~ Live Music For Special Events | Woodland Park | New Jersey |
Top Wedding Officiant | Wedding Officiant, bilingual | Belleville | New Jersey |
Top Woodwind Ensemble | Left Coast Quintet | San Diego | California |
Top World Band | El Tumbao | Miami | Florida |
Top World Music Duo | Fernandez + Kimball Spanish Guitars | Chicago | Illinois |
Top World Music Singer | Steven O'Toole - Irish Pub Song Singer | Washington | District of Columbia |
Top World Music Trio | Trivah | Los Angeles | California |