Come enjoy the talent of Indiana University students, alumnae and friends April 7 at a special concert in Shelbyville, Ind. All performers are recent contestants in the Miss IU Scholarship Pageant or Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant, which are part of the Miss America Organization. Vocal and dance performances will include a variety of songs from Broadway to classical to pop numbers, from serious to humorous. These young women are smart, beautiful and talented – excellent role models for girls and other young women. Be prepared for an entertaining and glamorous evening.

Proceeds from this concert will benefit the historic Strand Theatre and the Miss Indiana University Student Organization, which acts as an advisory board in the planning and execution of the annual Miss Indiana University Scholarship Pageant. The pageant’s sponsors include the IU Foundation and the Indiana University Student Association (IUSA). In addition to organizing the Miss IU Pageant, this student-driven local pageant provides resources and opportunities for personal growth to all students in the organization. Alumnae and Bloomington professionals coach students in interview and performance skills, collaborate on community service projects and provide important career networking opportunities. This year contestants received over $3,500 in scholarships. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m. Advanced sale tickets are available at Mickey’s T-Mart in Shelbyville. Tickets purchased at the door are $10 for adults, $5 for students.

Performers at this event include

Brianna McClellan, Miss IU 2012

Brianna McClellan, Miss IU 2012 and a junior majoring in theatre and drama, will play two roles at the concert: emcee and performer. At IU Ms. McClellan has appeared in Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia), The Three Musketeers (Kitty), Hay Fever (Myra Arundel), A Little Night Music (Malla), Marat/Sade (Guard), and Blood Brothers (Linda).  Other credits include Indiana Festival Theatre’s Ah, Wilderness! (Courtesan), Bloomington Playwrights Project’s Blizzard (Various), Virgina Musical Theatre’s Titanic (Kate), and Discovery Channel’s Wicked Attractions (Tessie).

Originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, Ms. McClellan will spend her year of service as Miss IU advocating her platform issue: Safe Schools for Every Student, a mission she started after her brother was bullied in high school for being gay. McClellan said she believes students should feel comfortable being who they are while in school. Additionally, she will serve the University by working various campus and alumni events and by representing IU at the Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant in Zionsville, Indiana, June 17-23.

Gabrielle Reed, Miss Indiana 2010

After winning the title of Miss Indiana in June 2010, soprano Gabrielle Reed had the opportunity to promote her personal platform “Empowerment from the Start; Communities Preventing Domestic Violence,” by speaking in schools and domestic violence organizations throughout Indiana. Interest in her platform was sparked by her personal experiences with domestic violence and advocacy work at Middle Way House in Bloomington, Indiana. In January 2011she competed for the title of Miss America, receiving special recognition for her performance of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in the talent portion of the competition. Ms. Reed was also a recipient of the Presidents Call to Service award for her 4,000+ hours of community service in women’s advocacy. Ms. Reed continues to be an advocate for all victims of domestic violence and continues to speak out against violence throughout the state of Indiana. She is also active in speaking out about the importance of music and the arts in our schools and communities.

In November of 2010 she recorded a special feature for “Children’s Miracle Music V.5″ to benefit Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, alongside several major recording artist. While she specializes in classical music and American songbook Ms. Reed has been active in many projects ranging from theater to new music and is always looking for new projects to tackle. A native of Los Angeles, California, Ms. Reed is a student at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, completing her M.M. in Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Carlos Montané.

Nicole Pollard, Miss Indiana 2009

Nicole Pollard is a magna cum laude graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she was student manager of the Singing Hoosiers and the IU Auditorium. An acclaimed vocalist and pianist, she has performed with Kris Allen at the National Guard Youth Foundation Gala, at both Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 Centennial Breakfast, and at Carnegie Hall. Ms. Pollard spent a year post-graduation serving the state of Indiana as Miss Indiana 2009. This led her to the Miss America Pageant, where she placed in the Judges’ Top 11 and received on-air praise from famed radio-host Rush Limbaugh for her excellent speaking skills.

Ms. Pollard is the Public and Media Relations Manager for “Team Plowey,” the organization behind her better half, racing driver Martin Plowman. Together they are spokespersons for Snowball Express, to provide hope and new memories for children of our fallen military. In her free time Ms. Pollard emcees several pageants and fundraisers around the state, is an active paddle boarder and fitness enthusiast, and enjoys shopping and sightseeing around the world. Follow her adventures at www.NicoleLynnPollard.com.

Katie Donnar, Miss Collegiate Indy 2012

Katie Donnar is a 2009 graduate of North Knox High School in Bicknell, Ind. She will be returning this summer to the Miss Indiana pageant for the fourth time, this time as Miss Collegiate Indy.  She has been featured in Seventeen magazine, Good Morning America, Indy Style Morning Show, Wall Street Journal and the New York Times for work she has committed to the Skin Cancer Foundation and Outrun the Sun in Indianapolis. She is currently a promotions coordinator for WFMS, WJJK and i94 radio stations in Indianapolis and an intern for Grand Solutions. Katie is currently studying Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations at IUPUI.

Paige Geer, Miss IU contestant

Paige Geer is an Indiana University junior majoring in Psychology. Growing up in Wawassee, Ind., Ms. Geer was crowned Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen in 2010 and was a contestant in the Miss IU pageant this spring. Her scholastic achievements  include membership in Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society and receiving an IU Recognition Scholarship. Besides her community service in organizing food drives and working with local food banks, Ms. Geer led the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowling for Kids Fundraiser. Her love for dance started at a young age, and she hopes to combine her career and personal interests by becoming an entertainment attorney or retail strategist.