On July 24 and 25, PRG Starwood in Los Angeles became a stage for the next generation of artists as White Hall Arts Academy brought its Music Creators Camp to PRG for the program’s culminating showcase.

Across two days, 40 students came to PRG to take their work from the classroom to a professional production environment. Students were divided into groups, each developing their own identity and original music, with group names such as Lemonize and 6Suns.

Friday focused on load-in, production and rehearsals, giving students a look into what it takes to build a show from start to finish. The following day, PRG Starwood came alive for the final showcase, where students performed their music for family, friends and invited guests.

Music Creators Camp, an initiative of White Hall Arts Academy founded by Tanisha Hall, gives young people the opportunity to explore music, creativity and performance while gaining firsthand exposure to the live entertainment industry. Throughout the program, Grammy Award-nominated producers and music professionals worked alongside students to develop and produce their original music and prepare for the stage.

Soundworks, White Hall Academy’s workforce development program, helps young people gain hands-on experience in sound engineering, lighting design, video production and more while opening doors to careers in production. The Soundworks team supported load-in, while our PRG team and interns helped turn the students’ work into a live production.

“PRG was incredibly honored to partner with Tanisha Hall and her amazing team at White Hall Arts Academy on their annual Music Creators Camp,” said Norah Blumberg, PRG’s Director of Music. “The outstanding work Tanisha and her team are doing in the community aligns perfectly with PRG’s commitment to mentorship, education and investing in the next generation.”

Blumberg emphasized the value of giving students a chance to experience the industry firsthand.

“This partnership provided an incredible opportunity for students to gain fully immersive, hands-on educational experience in a real-time production environment—connecting what they’re learning with what it truly takes to bring a production to life,” she said.

The weekend created a meaningful full-circle moment for PRG Lighting Intern Pharoah Armstead, a White Hall Arts Academy alum, who programmed the showcase. PRG interns also helped plan, execute and document the event, giving emerging production professionals the opportunity to help create that experience for the students coming up behind them.

Part of PRG’s mission is to make the industry more accessible to the next generation. These young people are the future. Whether they become the next global superstar, creative director, lighting designer, producer or technician, we want to help give them the tools, experiences and connections to find their place in live entertainment.

“We want to support and accompany these emerging technicians, designers, artists, production professionals, tour managers, engineers and future leaders as they begin their career journeys,” said Blumberg. “The experience was a tremendous success, and we’re proud to play a role in creating pathways, sharing knowledge and helping inspire the next generation of live entertainment professionals.”

For the students, the weekend was more than a final performance. It was an opportunity to see their ideas become a live production and to experience firsthand what can be possible.

Learn more about White Hall Arts Academy at WhiteHallAcademy.org.