Supporting & Elevating Tampa Bay Performing Artists
Palladium Creative Fellowships provide financial support and institutional support to artistically and culturally diverse performing artists across Tampa Bay. Fellows receive funding, professional resources, and access to the Palladium’s full-service theater environment to develop bold new creative work.
Since launching in 2021, the program has supported a growing cohort of artists whose projects span jazz, dance, classical, world music, opera, and beyond.
Palladium Creative Fellowships support and foster artistically and culturally diverse performing artists, provides a full-service theater as a space to develop their work, and showcases the range of talent that lives and works in our community.
The goal of the Creative Fellowship program is to elevate artists in our community and give audiences an insight into their creative projects and performance goals.
Overview
Fellowships offer financial awards of up to $2,500 to support:
- New Creative Works
- Advancement of existing projects
- Multimedia experimentation
- Professional artistic development
Fellowship Benefits
- Up to $2,500 in unrestricted funding*
- Networking with current and past fellows
- Access to Palladium staff and institutional resources
- Marketing, technical, administrative, and rehearsal support
- In-kind value of full Palladium services is valued at approximately $5,500
- Potential performance date of completed project presented by the Palladium**
*Stipend determined by selection committee based on project scope.
**Palladium retains ticket revenue for any Creative Fellowship projects selected for performance.
Due to the Palladium’s projected closure in summer of 2026 for the renovation of Hough Hall, the 2026 Creative Fellowship awards will be for project and professional development only. Performance dates are not available at this time.
Who May Apply
Applicants must:
- Reside in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee, or Sarasota Counties
- Propose work in one of the following genres:
Jazz | Blues | Dance | Opera | Classical | Chamber | Contemporary | World | Pop/Rock | Singer-Songwriter | Multidisciplinary performance
Additional Guidelines
- Artists may submit more than one proposal
- Artists may receive a Fellowship in no more than two consecutive years.
- Prior group recipients may apply individually (and vice versa).
Application Requirements
Applicants will submit:
- Professional bio
- Artistic goals (300 words max)
- Project Proposal (500 words max)
- Budget outline
- Work samples
- Community engagement plans (if applicable)
Applications for the 2026 Palladium Creative Fellowships have closed. Thank you to all who applied. Look for the 2027 application in late summer 2026.
THANK YOU – The Palladium Creative Fellowship program is made possible with support from The Gobioff Foundation, Smith & Associates Real Estate, The Hough Family Foundation, Margaret Ewell Dickins Family Foundation, Jenny Carey and Jamie Shephard, St. Petersburg College Foundation, and The City of St. Petersburg.
Become a Creative Fellowships Series or Performance Partner!
Creative Fellowships keep our most talented local performing artists working in our community. We are the only theater in the region serving as an arts incubator, supporting performers in our community as they create new works, advance existing works, implement new media, and develop new ideas. Find out how you can help here.
MEET OUR FELLOWS
2026 Cohort
Since 2021, the Palladium has supported an expanding community of Creative Fellows whose work reflects the depth and diversity of the Tampa Bay performing arts landscape.
Madison Pineda Bender is a professional dancer, creator, and educator based in St. Petersburg, FL. She began her early dance training in Sacramento, CA, and Keller, TX and moved to New York City, at 16, to attend The Joffrey Ballet School Jazz and Contemporary Program. In 2021, Madison graduated from The Juilliard School with a B.F.A. in Dance, receiving the Martha Hill Award and the Juilliard Career Advancement Fellowship Grant. She also trained at the Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Dance Festival, the Nederlands Dans Theater Summer Intensive, the Arts Umbrella Summer Dance Intensive, and Springboard Danse.
Madison has performed the works of Martha Graham, Crystal Pite, and Paul Taylor as well as new creations by Ohad Naharin, Desmond Richardson, Andrea Miller, and Darrel Moultrie. She was chosen to present her work in Juilliard’s 2019 ChoreoComp program and later, worked as Rena Butler’s choreographic assistant for the Juilliard New Dances: Edition 2021 production.
From 2022-2023, Madison worked as a company dancer and teaching artist with GroundWorks DanceTheater, performing new creations by Antonio Brown, Peter Chu, Rena Butler, David Shimotakahara, Spenser Theberge, and Sidra Bell. Madison staged and rehearsed choreography by Rena Butler on the students at George Mason University and worked as her choreographic assistant for a new creation at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Madison joined Peter Chu’s company, chuthis., in 2024, and performed last summer at Orsolina28.
Madison premiered a new solo by Peter Chu and showcased her work at the BEACON 2025 dance festival. She was commissioned by the Florida Orchestra to choreograph and perform for their 2025 Soundwaves Chamber Series: The Soldier’s Tale and for their 2025 Youth Concerts. This fall, Madison premiered a new trio at the Dalí Museum as a 2025 Momentum Artist with the support of St. Petersburg Individual Artist Grant. She looks forward to returning to the BEACON dance festival in March to premiere a new piece and perform new works by Peter Chu and Nicholas Garlo.
Critically-acclaimed music artist Julie Black writes expansive music rooted in early blues & jazz. She’s a soul-stirring vocalist, an insightful messenger, and a songwriter whose personal story is deep, complex, and inspiring. Her intuitive approach creates a singular sound that transcends time and space.
“Julie Black is the perfect mix of blues, jazz, and soul” – CBS TV.
More at julieblackmusic.com
Markus Gottschlich is an Austrian-American
pianist, composer, and Steinway Artist whose
music reflects a unique fusion of classical,
jazz, and world traditions. Informed by his
global experiences living across Europe, Asia,
and the Americas, Markus’s work captivates
audiences with its emotional depth, technical
brilliance, and cultural richness.
Featured in renowned publications such as
Downbeat Magazine, Markus has built an
impressive career that includes three critically
acclaimed albums, international tours, and
performances at major jazz festivals and
prestigious concert series. His compositions,
influenced by diverse musical traditions, have
also been featured in film soundtracks,
showcasing his versatility as an artist.
In addition to his performance career,
Markus has served as Artistic Director of the
Miami Beach Jazz Festival and has led other
notable jazz organizations across the United
States, fostering vibrant jazz communities and
spearheading innovative programming.
Markus has collaborated with Grammywinning musicians and regularly performs as
a solo artist or with his dynamic ensemble.
Beyond performing, he is a passionate
educator, conducting workshops, clinics, and
mentorship programs to inspire emerging
talent.
A recipient of the prestigious Creative
Pinellas Artist Grant in 2025, Markus
continues to push creative boundaries,
making him a sought-after headliner for
concert halls, jazz festivals, and exclusive
music series worldwide.
Hex Appeal is a band of five witchy punks rocking Florida’s Gulf Coast. The multi-generational, all female group is known for swampy melodies and haunting harmonies.
In February 2024, Hex Appeal was conjured during the inaugural Ladies Rock Camp in St. Petersburg Florida. They became friends, learned new instruments, wrote their first song and performed it for 300 people — all in just three days!
Hex Appeal kept the magic going after camp ended, becoming the Ladies Rock Camp ambassador band, playing for thousands of fans at Jannus Live (twice!), touring around Tampa Bay and recording their debut album at Dark Matter Recording Studio in St. Pete. Their first single, “Haunted,” debuted at the end of their local “Hextober” tour this fall.
The band is made up of local creative powerhouses: Tampa Bay Times culture and nostalgia reporter Gabrielle Calise, photographer to the stars Sandra Dohnert, Vertical Ventures rock climbing gym owner Kelly “KJ” Jackson, award-winning comedian and graphic designer Cat Lim and Loella Springmann, a coach and writer who pens the popular “Punk Granny” newsletter on Substack.
Hex Appeal and Ladies Rock Camp have been featured in the Kelly Clarkson Show, the Tampa Bay Times, I Love the Burg Tanks Good News and Creative Loafing.
Praised for her vocal clarity, crystalline coloratura, and abundant musicality, Lebanese-American soprano Christine Honein has appeared on stages across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East in both operatic and concert repertoire. Most recently, she was featured as a soloist in New Year concerts with the Donau Philharmonie Wien and the Pilsen State Opera Orchestra, performing under the baton of Maestro Manfred Müssauer and Maestra Rima Tawil.
Christine’s operatic highlights include Sœur Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites (Opera For Earth), Mrs. Hayes in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah (St. Pete Opera, company debut), Maria in West Side Story (Eklund Opera), Dalinda in Ariodante (Eklund Opera), and Drusilla in L’incoronazione di Poppea (FSU Opera). In 2025, she also made her debut with the Nantucket Chamber Music Festival, performing works by Ned Rorem and Howard Frazin as part of The Rossini Club.
On the concert stage, Christine is deeply passionate about championing new works by her colleagues and friends, with a particular commitment to highlighting the music of Lebanese composers. In Spring 2025, she curated and presented Whimsical Melodies, a chamber program at the University of Tampa. The previous year, she appeared as a guest artist at the University of Wyoming, where she presented her recital A Musical Voyage: From Sevilla to Beirut and led a masterclass for voice students.
Born in Lebanon to Lebanese parents, Christine spent her formative years in Beirut and Florida. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Florida State University and a Master of Music from the University of Colorado Boulder, and is a student of soprano and conductor Rima Tawil, whose mentorship has been central to her artistic growth. Through her work, Christine aspires to use music as a means of expression, connection, and cultural exchange—bridging the rich traditions of East and West.
Ghadeer Abaido is a Palestinian-Jordanian pianist whose musical experiences range from performing classical music as a soloist to collaborating with chamber music groups and orchestras in the Middle East, Europe and the United States. She received her bachelor’s degree from the National Music Conservatory in Jordan. While living in Jordan, she performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb minor under the baton of Mohammed Uthman Siddiq, and Liszt’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in collaboration with conductor Jose Arean. She also worked briefly in Dubai as a film-score composer where her music won two Lynx awards and was featured in the Dubai International Film Festival.
Ghadeer moved to the United States in 2017 and completed her master’s degree at the University of South Florida where she won the USF Orchestra’s concerto competition. She enjoys performing chamber music with a variety of instrumentalists, most notably the Reflections Chamber Ensemble, a Tampa-based, not-for-profit chamber ensemble that focuses on the works of underrepresented and living composers. She is also a part of Roam Duo with renowned pianist Svetozar Ivano. Together, they focus on artistic creativity and collaboration across disciplines.
Ghadeer recently returned from a European tour where she played with the Roam Duo and as a soloist in The Kultursalon Die Flaneure Series in Berlin, Germany, the Prague Piano Festival in the Czech Republic, the Willa Decjusza Concert Series in Krakow, Poland, Autunno Musicale Music Festival in Naples, and Terre d’Arezzo Music Festival in Arezzo, Italy
Ghadeer currently serves as an adjunct professor of piano at the University of South Florida and has served as faculty at the Prague Piano Festival and the Walled City International Music Academy in Ireland.
Allison Nash is a local jazz and soul vocalist originally from Omaha, NE. She is known to stir emotions and bring music to life with her powerful, versatile voice. You may catch her taking the stage with a few of Tampa Bays very own- bassist and producer Alejandro Arenas, trumpeter James Suggs, and pianist and composer Simon Lasky. Keep an ear out because Allison will begin releasing music as early as spring 2026.
More at allisonnashmusic.com.
ARConnection (Arencibia/Rudolph Connection) is a Tampa Bay based ensemble led by pianist Pablo Arencibia and drummer Dave Rudolph with Latin Grammy nominee Mauricio J. Rodriguez on bass. The group’s name refers to the consistent sentiment expressed by listeners who note the strong connection they display musically among themselves and with their audience.
The unique sound of ARConnection can be described as modern post-bop charged with elements of fusion, electric, and Latin jazz. Drawing inspiration from music legends including Herbie Hancock, Brian Blade, and Chick Corea, ARConnection’s compelling virtuosic performances honor the finest jazz traditions while also exploring new artistic horizons through the group’s original compositions. ARConnection features a rotating cast of talented guest artists.
More at Arconnectionjazz.com
Lauren Slone is an internationally recognized arts leader with cross-sectoral experience as a consultant, educator, arts administrator, dancer, choreographer, writer, and nearly two decades in programmatic design, strategy, and grantmaking in arts philanthropy. To date, she has helped distribute more than $50 million in direct support to artists throughout the world.
She earned an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Florida State University School of Dance where she was the first Mellon Foundation Arts Administration Fellow at Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC) and a Ballet Pedagogy Fellow. She is the proud co-founder and co-producer of the BEACON performance series and loves teaching technique classes at Hillsborough College and Academy of Ballet Arts.
She’s received creative residencies for her work through PS122, the Lillian E. Smith Center, The Palladium Theater, MANCC as Embedded Writer-in-Residence, and Jacob’s Pillow Lab with choreographer Joanna Kotze. Her work has been presented at Wassaic Project, Movement Research at the Judson Church, Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center, and Wexner Center for the Arts, among others.
She has lectured at CalArts, Parsons’ School of Fashion/Design Sustainability, Sarah Lawrence College, American University, The Ohio State University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Brown University, among others. Her research has been published and presented through DanceNYC, PEAK Grantmaking, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies’ Leadership Institute, Gibney Dance, and Americans for the Arts. She has also served as co-Chair of Grantmakers in the Arts Support for Individual Artist Committee and several other international groups dedicated to improving labor conditions for artists.
Adam Turkel is a professional artist based in St. Petersburg since 1999. He specializes in both fine art and graphic design. He’s known for his work in the music industry – designing album & book covers, posters, and t-shirts for some of the most legendary names in music.
Besides his visual art, Adam is a recording artist, songwriter, and musician releasing albums in Australia, Germany, and the USA. He also is a teacher and head of the National Arts Honor Society at Lakewood High School.
Zeta the Babe (Zhareyahnna) is a singer, saxophonist, and storyteller whose work explores vulnerability as a pathway to growth and self-acceptance. Blending neo-soul, jazz, spoken word, and live saxophone, she creates immersive performances that sit between concert, theater, and personal testimony. Her independent artistry centers on dismantling perfectionism through honest storytelling and creative discipline.
Alongside her original work, Zeta is a full-time gigging musician, performing both covers and originals for restaurants, private events, and performance venues throughout Florida and Texas. This dual practice allows her to remain deeply connected to live audiences while sustaining an independent creative career.
Her recent projects, including PACT: Poetry + Sax and How To Be Vulnerable, reflect her belief in art as a tool for healing and self-awareness. Guided by her philosophy of the Three Pillars of Discipline—Body, Mind, and Creative, Zeta’s long-term vision is to evolve into a motivational speaker and creative educator, touring her work and leading workshops rooted in vulnerability and expression.
