Horatio Alger Association Presents the Debut Performance of its International Ambassador, George Perris, at Jazz at Lincoln Center

NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, presents, in partnership with Forbes magazine, "George Perris Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center." This marks the first-ever performance for Mr. Perris – the Association's international ambassador – at the famed venue.

The 90-minute concert,  which is in the process of being finalized for broadcast on both Comcast network and the Ovation channel, kicks-off Horatio Alger's 2014 "State of the Association" meetings, which are being organized in celebration of the Association's awarding more than $100 million in need-based scholarships since the inception of its National Scholarship Program in 1984. Held at various locales throughout the United States and Canada, and linked with special concert performances, these meetings will also serve to keep Members, Scholars and Alumni Scholars connected to each other and to the Association and its many initiatives.

The performance by Mr. Perris begins the next exciting chapter in the Association's relationship with the global pop-classical singing sensation.  In his role as international ambassador for the Association, Mr. Perris has used his immense talent to raise awareness of the Association's mission, specifically as it relates to its educational and scholarship programs.  For his upcoming American debut studio album, Mr. Perris has co-written the song, "Shine," in honor of the Association's 20,000 Scholars and Alumni Scholars. 

"Through our 'State of the Association' meetings, which celebrate 30 years of scholarships, we are proud to support and salute George Perris as Horatio Alger Association's international ambassador," said Tony Novelly, President and CEO of Horatio Alger Association.  "We are deeply grateful to George for using his exceptional vocal talents to promote awareness of the Association's educational programs and mission.  His advocacy is truly inspirational.  We are also greatly appreciative of Comcast and Ovation for helping us to share our mission – and George's talent – with a wider audience."

"State of the Association" meetings also provide an opportunity to introduce Horatio Alger Association's newest National Scholars to the organization.  At this evening's performance, the Association will welcome select students from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania who are among its newly-announced class of 2014 National Scholars. Each Scholar is recognized as an outstanding student, who, in the face of great adversity, has exhibited an admirable commitment to continuing his/her education and serving his/her community.  Awarded $21,000 to apply toward the tuition of the college or university of their choice, Horatio Alger National Scholars come from households with an average income of $15,000 per year while maintaining an average 3.8 GPA and a scoring a mean 1,684 on the SAT.  Since the establishment of its scholarship programs in 1984, Horatio Alger Association has awarded more than $100 million in undergraduate, graduate and specialized scholarships. 

Mr. Novelly added: "We are delighted to welcome our new Scholars to the Association with a special event at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Our Scholars, as always, are both impressive and deserving of the Association's support.  And undoubtedly their potential for success is similar to that of George Perris – infinite." 

For more information about Horatio Alger Association and its "State of the Association" meetings, please visit https://www.horatioalger.org/.  For more information about George Perris, please visit: http://georgeperris.com/en.

About Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans:
Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., fulfills its mission of honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. Horatio Alger Association supports students through annual undergraduate and graduate need-based scholarships and mentoring programs across the United States and Canada. Since 1984, the Association has awarded more than $100 million in college scholarships to deserving young people.  For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

About George Perris
George Perris was born in Athens in 1983 to a Greek father and a French mother. At a very early age, Perris decided he wanted to become a singer and began studying the piano. He pursued his studies in Greek Literature at the University of Athens.

Shortly thereafter, his first Greek solo album, was released by EMI. In the years that followed, Perris released 2 more Greek albums with Sony Music and Heaven Music, and a French album in Canada with Select Records. 

Perris has performed at some of the most prestigious concert halls around the world [Symphony Hall, Boston; Place des Arts, Montreal; Le Zenith, Paris; Herod Atticus Theatre, Athens; Lincoln Center, New York; Symphony Hall, Kiev; Kurucesme Arena, Istanbul]  and with some of the most respected and acclaimed international artists [Lara Fabian, Lucio Dalla, Justin Hayward, Mario Frangoulis, Madeleine Peyroux, Deborah Myers, Stephan Moccio and Alkistis Protopsalti]. 

2014 brings George to North America for the release of his first English language album, "Picture This." This debut album was recorded in LA, NYC, London, Montreal, Prague and Athens. George collaborated with producers Mark Portmann (Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera), Marco Marinangeli (Josh Groban, Il Divo), Simon Hale (Bjork, Tina Arena, Jamiroquai) and Michael "Smidi" Smith (Jordin Sparks, Apple, Chris Young).  The album includes 13 tracks, three of which have been written by George.  "Picture This" also includes the participation of the Prague Symphony Orchestra. 

Finally, George Perris is engaged to a cause that is very important to him personally: the Horatio Alger Association, an association that offers scholarships to young students facing adversity and for which George is an International Ambassador.  

As George says, "Music, for me, is like a beautiful rainbow with many colors... it knows no nationalities, no barriers, no frontiers. Because music has its own language: the language of love, of freedom, but above all, of hope."

CONTACT:
Nikki Elkins
484-385-2958 (office)
[email protected]

SOURCE Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc.