CONNECTING COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE ARTS
VISION
Co-founded by siblings Maximilian and Esmeralda Swietelsky with the help of their founding member friends, Rising Stars Miami is a non-profit community outreach organization of teenagers who visit underserved South Florida communities, teaching and engaging kids to explore the Performing Arts. Rising Stars Miami also awards grants to community centers and scholarships to individuals for the study of the Performing Arts and provides performance opportunities to aspiring young artists.
Our Talent

Esmeralda is the Co-Founder of Rising Stars Miami with her brother, Maximilian, and has taken on her leadership role quite naturally and effectively. She loves working with her Rising Stars Miami colleagues and using her talents to teach kids and inspire them to learn more about the arts. Esmeralda has been ...

Maximilian was born and raised in Miami and has always had a passion for music. His Venezuelan-Italian mother and Austrian father, as multicultural as his hometown, exposed him to music of all kinds – classical, jazz, Latin, opera and other performing arts. He was encouraged early on to learn different instruments, to pursue his artistic expression. Max is an award-winning classical pianist and has twice ...

Isabella Polak has been a member of Rising Stars since 2019. She is a junior in the Visual and Performing Arts magnet at Coral Reef Senior High and has been studying theater and voice since she was 9. Over the past few years, ...

Addison (Addie) Grinan has been a founding member of Rising Stars since 2018, she is a senior at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and a long-time supporter of the arts. She has enjoyed ...

Mela Lew has been a founding member of Rising Stars since 2018 and is currently a Junior at Ransom Everglades. She has been practicing and performing the violin since the age of 5. Over the years, ...

Georgia is a 12th grader at Westminister Christian School. She recently performed in the world premiere of a new West End musical at The London Palladium...

Evelyn Yu is a 16-year-old attending Ransom Everglades School in the junior class. She is currently pursuing violin and piano since the age of 5, and also plays the guitar and cajon. Throughout her life, ...

Emma Polak has been a member of Rising Stars since 2022. She is a senior at Mast Academy in the Cambridge program. She has danced at ...

Diana Gonzalez has been a member of Rising Stars since 2021. She is a junior in Ransom Everglades and has been a participant in the theater program since sixth grade. Diana focused on ...
Zack Fisher is a junior attending New World School of the Arts in the music strand. He plays ...
Gabriella Hernandez has been a member of Rising Stars since 2022. She is a Junior in the Visual and Performing Arts magnet at Coral Reef Senior High. She has been performing since she was 5 in dance and musical theatre. She has performed in ...
Sidney Scholl joined Rising Stars in 2021. She is a junior at Coral Reef High in the drama magnet. She enjoys ...
Liam Malik has been a member of Rising Stars Miami since 2022. He is a junior at Ransom Everglades School. He has performed with various musical groups at his school, such as ...

Former Member
Natacha has been exposed to music from a very early age. She has been on the National Roll for the Piano Guild Auditions for the past six years. ...

Former Member
Jacob’s passion for the performing arts sprouted at a young age when he took up the piano at age 4. After a strong 6 years of playing the piano,...

Former Member
Kiran is a 16 year old student interested in piano, photography and volunteerism. His musical career began at age 6 when he first came across a ...

Former Member
Isabella is a sixteen-year-old Junior at Carrollton School of the Sacred heart. She acquired a passion for dance at an early age and is a current...

Former Member
At the age of five Devon started playing piano and singing. He kept up his love of music through his elementary years winning school talent...

Former Member
Peter is a Junior at Ransom Everglades High School. His hobbies include fishing, lobstering, swimming, boating, reading and writing. He also...

Former Member
Fernanda was born in Mexico City in 2003, and came to the US in 2005. She then moved to Moscow, Russia...

Former Member
Ava is a rising 8th grader at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and an aspiring actress. She is thrilled...

Former Member
Harry is an alto saxophonist who has had a long standing passion for music. Starting on the violin at the age 7 he quickly grew fascinated by the world of...
RSM Scholarship for the Arts Recipients

We met Guillermo Barrera at Branches Florida City Community Center and we immediately fell in love with his enthusiasm and his willingness to jump in to everything we were showing him! Guillermo, who is in second grade, won a Rising Stars Miami Scholarship to the Broadway Bites Theater Workshop at Area Stage Company this summer and was a real star!



Essence of Dance Team is a talented group of young dancers at Elizabeth Virrick Park Community Center in Coconut Grove who are achieving amazing success under the artistic direction of Vicky Rivers. They placed 3rd in the State of Florida in the JV HIPHOP category at their first year as competitors in the 2019 PopWarner Dance Competition!
DONATIONS
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT THE ARTS IN SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITIES?
- Donate to our Fund
- Become a public, private, or corporate sponsor
- Give in-kind donations
- Donate musical instruments
- Donate dance gear
- Donate photography equipment
- Offer your time as an arts instructor
100% of your support goes directly to young rising stars in our
communities to help them find their voice in the Arts
Make a Difference!
Congratulations, Max, on being selected to represent Ransom Everglades School as a Silver Knight Award nominee in the area of Music!
The Silver Knight Awards is a highly competitive program sponsored by The Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald that recognizes outstanding seniors who not only maintain good grades, but also unselfishly apply their special knowledge and talents through service to their school and community.
Max is being nominated for his ongoing community service project to support and promote the performing arts to underserved kids through the non-profit he founded, Rising Stars Miami.
We are proud of you and all your accomplishments!
#silverknightnominee #silverknightawards #ransomeverglades #reproud #risingstarsmiami #ransomevergladesschool #risingstarsmiaminews #communityservice #music #kidsteachingkids #miaminonprofit #supportingthecommunity #maxswietelsky #supporttheperformingarts #rsmscholarshipforthearts #artsforall @ransomevergladesschool @max_swietelsky ...
Rising Stars Miami volunteers at @breakthroughmiami
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#saturdaymornings #risingstarsmiami #breakthroughmiami #kidsteachingkids #breakthroughthedistance #changinglives #miaminonprofit #givebacktogether #communityservice #miaminonprofit #southflorida #miamikids #community ...
Now more than ever, Rising Stars Miami is proud to continue to promote the performing arts in Miami and continues to teach the Arts & Culture class virtually to @breakthroughmiami Scholars on Saturdays. In addition, three young student artists will be selected in the next week to receive Rising Stars Miami Scholarships for the Arts for the study of musical theater! Stay tuned for the announcement.
Please consider donating to our RSM Scholarship fund on our website, https://risingstarsmiami.org also in our bio ⬆️. 100% of your donation is used for the scholarships and your donation is completely tax deductible.
#risingstarsmiami #rsmscholarship #music #theater #dance #ArtsForAll #musicaltheatre #artsandculture #RSM2020 #kidsteachingkids #maxswietelsky #esmeraldaswietelsky #connectingcommunities #miaminonprofit #communityservice #serviceproject #supportartists #serviceproject #teachingduringcovid19 #kidsofinstagram #kidshelpingkids #miamilife #breakthroughmiami #givingbacktothecommunity #performingartsscholarships #southfloridakids ...
Today!
#jazz #jazzmusician #jazzstudents #jazzteacher #jazzmusic #jazzy #jazzmusicians #nicoleyarling @knickee1 @max_swietelsky ...
SIGN UP:
TWO MUSICIAN’S JAZZ CLINICS
Registration link in bio ⬆️
For #jazzlovers, #jazzstudents and #jazzmusicians, regardless of #instrument:
JAZZ SKILLS: THE ART OF LISTENING
Next Monday 8/3: Nicole Yarling shares insights on becoming a better musician, learning to recognize not only the mechanics of music but also how to listen and play with other musicians and create the dynamic that allows each the room to display their individual voices.
LATIN JAZZ: UNDERSTANDING BASIC LATIN GROOVES
8/12: award-winning 30-year bandleader, Michele Fernandez, will teach her popular clinic, an overview of #bossa, #samba, and #salsa and how to play these defining #rhythms, regardless of instrument.
#theartoflistening #nicoleyarling #jazzvocalist #jazzviolin #improvisation #jazzcombo #jazzensemble #michelefernandezdenlinger #bandleader #adjudicator #instrumental #conductor #latinjazz
#breakthroughmiami #risingstarsmiami #buildingbridgesthroughthearts #communityservice #musicforall #ittakesavillage #breakthroughthedistance #maxswietelsky ...
TOMORROW:
Jazz in the 2000’s + Great Guitar Musicians in Jazz
@max_swietelsky and guest cohost: Tom Lippincott @tomlippincott
#jazzmusician, 6-and 8-string #Guitar, #Composer #Educator
DON’T MISS THE LAST #JAZZHISTORY CLASS!
PLUS SIGN UP FOR 2 JAZZ CLINICS JUST ADDED
Info & register link in bio ⬆️
#jazz #modernjazz #jazzgiants #jazzeducation #jazzgreats #jazzmusicians #jazzguitar #jazzteacher #music #jazztoday #jazzmusic #jazzclinic #tomlippincott #maxswietelsky #breakthroughmiami #changinglives #creatingjazzlovers ...
TOMORROW:
Jazz in the 1980’s-1990’s.
By @max_swietelsky + Special Guest: Mark Small @marksmallmusic
Miami + NYC #JazzSaxophonist #Woodwinds #Composer #Educator
DON’T MISS LAST 2 #JAZZHISTORY CLASSES!
PLUS 2 JAZZ CLINICS ADDED
Info & register link in bio ⬆️
#jazz #jazzeducation #jazzgreats #jazzmusicians #jazzsaxophone #jazzmusic #jazzclinic #marksmall #marksmallmusic #jazzteacher #jazz🎷 #jazzlife #jazzsax #jazzlover #maxswietelsky ...
#Repost @nicolehenrymusic
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#MaximilianSwietelsky, @max_swietelsky you have created SUCH a FAB class teaching other students about the “History of Jazz: Intro to Black Music” through your #RisingStars_Miami organization and #BreakthroughMiami. I am so impressed with you (being a H.S. student yourself!!! 😬👏🏽). Thank you for having me as a guest presenter – I loved speaking about my fave vocalists including #songstylistnancywilson, #SarahVaughanfanpage #CarmenMcRae, and of course #firstladyofsong (Ella) & #billieholidayofficial. Bravo, young lion…Keep It Up!! ❤️🙌🏽 ...
Jazz Fusion Today! 1970-1980’s
@marcus_thedrummer #jazz #jazzeducation #jazzhistory #marcusgrant #jazz🎷 #jazzfusion #jazzmusician #miamimusician #miamijazz #miamivibes Register link in bio⬆️ ...
Jazz Education Series: Tomorrow 1:30-2:15 PM EST @max_swietelsky welcomes the amazing award-winning Jazz vocalist and educator Nicole Henry to cohost the next online class in his African American Music: Intro to Jazz Series. Topic: Cool Jazz/West Coast Jazz, 1940-1960’s and Iconic Vocalists. Rumor has it that Nicole will be singing for us...wonder which iconic vocalist she will choose? Class is free and open to all. Registration link in bio⬆️. #jazz #jazzhistory #jazzeducation #jazzsingers #cooljazz #westcoastjazz #jazzstudents #westcoastjazzmusicians #jazzgiants #jazzvocalists #nicolehenry #nicolehenrymusic #maxswietelsky #breakthroughmiami #jazzeducator #jazzmusic #jazzlegends #jazzforkids ...
1:30 PM EST Today: online jazz history class. Talking about the 1940’s -1950’s Bebop modern jazz movement and how it revolutionized jazz. Guest: @shellybergofficial Open to kids and adults. Sign up link in bio ⬆️ #jazz #jazzeducation #jazzmusic #jazzteacher #bebopjazz #shellyberg #introtojazz #breakthroughmiami #maxswietelsky ...
Learn about the evolution of #jazz this summer...African American Music: Intro to Jazz. Here’s some pictures of the last few classes of @max_swietelsky Intro to Jazz class he is teaching kids online. Join him and his top jazz musician and educator guests on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM. DM for webinar invite.
Past & Upcoming Topics and Guests:
Wed 6/24
Origins of Jazz: Late 1880’s to beginning 1920’s
GUEST: KEITH CLARKE, Founder, Miami Jazz and Film Society
Mon 6/29
The Jazz Age: the Roaring 20’s, Swing, Big Bands - up until the 30’s
GUEST: JON HAMM, Performing Arts Department Chair, Director of Instrumental Music, Ransom Everglades School
Wed 7/1
The Age of Swing and Big Bands: 1930’s to 1940’s
MAX SWIETELSKY
Mon 7/6
1940’s - Big Band goes to War, Peak of Swing, Beginning of Bebop
GUEST: RODOLFO ZÚÑIGA, Musician, drummer, composer, educator
Wed 7/8
1940-1950’s - Bebop: Post-war Jazz, end of Swing, New Evolving Styles
GUEST: SHELLY BERG, Dean, UM Frost School of Music, award-winning American pianist, composer, arranger, orchestrator, and producer
Mon 7/13
Cool Jazz/ West Coast Jazz : 1940’s to 1960’s & Iconic Vocalists
GUEST: NICOLE HENRY, award-winning American jazz singer, educator
Wed 7/15
Latin Jazz: Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian Jazz, Bossa Nova
Mon 7/20
Hard Bop 1950’s and 1960’s
GUEST: MARK SABATELLA, Denver-based jazz pianist, composer, educator, Director of Education MuseScore
Wed 7/22
The 1970’s-1980’s: Jazz-funk, Soul Jazz, Jazz Rock
GUEST: MARCUS GRANT, Musician, drum set/percussion, educator
Mon 7/27
Jazz 1980’s and 1990’s
GUEST: MARK SMALL, Musician, saxophonist/woodwind/composer/educator
Wed 7/29
Jazz: last 20 years and today, Guitar in Jazz
GUEST: TOM LIPPINCOTT, Musician, Eight- and six-string guitar, educator
#jazzmusic #jazzhistory #jazzmusician #harlemrennaisance #bigbands #cooljazz #hardbop #ageofjazz #roaringtwenties #ageofswing #kansascityjazz #chicagojazz #neworleansjazz #newyorkjazz #funk #swing #bebop #latinjazz #bossanova #afrocubanjazz #jazzeducation ...
Coming up next week:
RSM founder @max_swietelsky will be teaching a course on jazz, African American Music: Intro to Jazz as an elective class this summer at the @breakthroughmiami Virtual Summer Institute. Max, a rising senior at @ransomevergladesschool , is both a classical pianist and the jazz alto sax player on Ransom’s #RECombo, which won 2nd. place earlier this year at the National Jazz Festival. He fell in love with jazz a couple of years ago and wants to bring that appreciation to a new generation of young kids.
The course, which is limited to 10 students, will feature local and national guest jazz musicians, educators, and historians whom Max will interview on the era being covered that day and play samples of the music and maybe even have a live performance or two.
The #BreakthroughScholars will learn about jazz and its African American origins in the Deep South at the end of the 19th. century and all the way up to present time, about the different styles and cities where it evolved, and all the great musicians that this original American art form has produced which have influenced world music for generations.
#breakthroughmiami #kidsteachingkids #breakthroughthedistance #africanamericanmusic #jazzandblues #introtojazz #virtuallearning #jazz #americanmusic #jazzmusic #jazzhistory #jazz🎷 #jazzmusician #jazzeducator #jazzhistoryisblackhistory #jazzhistoryforkids #teachingthemyoung #virtual #jazzmusicians #greatestjazzmusic #summercamp2020 #miamisopportunitygenerator #breakthroughvirtualsummerinstitute #makingadifference #risingstarsmiami2020 #maxswietelsky ...
Congratulations to our own fabulous Devon Lane, who was nominated by his school, @rmecpirates and received a @miamiherald Silver Knight Honorable mention award!!! We are so proud! Devon, who is a great percussionist and singer and has a big heart and is a great teacher, was one of the first friends that Max and Esmeralda Swietelsky invited to join Rising Stars Miami in 2018. He has always added so much to our group and our mission and we will really miss him now that he is going to college. We love you Devon! #silverknightawards #miamiheraldsilverknightawards #honorablemention #devonlane #great #congratulations #proudofyou #communityservice #kidsteachingkids #connectingcommunitiesthroughthearts #miamilife #risingstarsmiaminews #silvernightawards2020 #risingstarsmiami2020 ...
#Repost @carrolltonsacredheart with @get_repost
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Rising Stars Miami is a teenage non-profit created by Esmeralda Swietelsky '24 and her brother, Max Swietelsky, which promotes the performing arts for under-resourced kids in Miami. Through its partnership with Breakthrough Miami, they teach the Arts to kids, exposing them to jazz, opera, dance, songwriting, drumming, acting, and improv. They have stayed connected with their students during the pandemic through Zoom, and will continue to develop new programs they can offer through their virtual academy. Addison Griñan '24 and Isabella Villa '21 also volunteer with Rising Stars Miami. We are proud of our students for serving their community! #Carrollton #cssh #WeAreSacredHeart @risingstars_miami ...
Together again. Fun Friday’s continue! More pics of our #RSM #webinarhangout with @breakthroughmiami kids. Our theme: a very funny #KitchenImprov !
#greatjob #breakthroughmiami #improv #kidsofinstagram #havingfun #keepitsimple #zoom #improvisation #alwayssmile #risingstarsmiamiatbreakthrough #kidsteachingkids #togetherwecan ...
Fun Friday’s continue! RSM #webinarhangout with @breakthroughmiami kids. Our theme: a very funny #KitchenImprov #greatjob #breakthroughmiami #improv #kidsofinstagram #havingfun #keepitsimple #zoom #improvisation #alwayssmile #risingstarsmiamiatbreakthrough #kidsteachingkids ...
Zoom 💻 webinar hangout yesterday with our friends from @breakthroughmiami ! ⭐️ Glad to have fun and share some beats with the scholars! 🥁🥁🥁See you next week for our next virtual class, Kitchen Improv 👩🏼🍳😹🤪 #breakthroughmiami #risingstarsmiami #hangoutswebinar #kidsteachingkids #havingfuntogether #connecting #zoom ...
Even at home, we are still connecting virtually to our scholar friends at @breakthroughmiami !!! #hangoutswebinar #breakthroughmiami #keepmovingforward #zoom #neverstop #risingstarsmiami ...
#Repost @breakthroughmiami with @get_repost
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Supporting scholars takes a village – Today we reminisce and show gratitude for the many members of our @BreakthroughMiami community. Local organizations are an essential part of our village and help us cultivate unique experiences and opportunities for our scholars. @risingstars_miami spent the school year partnering with our @ransomeverglades campus to deliver dynamic arts programming. Partnering with @youngpatronessesoftheopera, Rising Stars Miami enabled our scholars to see a professional in-school opera version of Mozart's Magic Flute; Papageno. #ItTakesAVillage #TakeMeBackTuesday #BreakthroughTheDistance ...
Opera at @breakthroughmiami #ransomeverglades middle school campus 🎶🎶 We loved seeing the faces of the #breakthroughmiami scholars when (most of them) listened to #opera for the first time! Thanks to the @youngpatronessesoftheopera in-school opera program and #risingstarsmiami maybe one or more of these talented kids will be inspired to pursue opera later on in their life. We had questions about singing lessons and some kids were testing out their vibrato...#inspiration #icandothis #dreambig #operasinger #breakthroughmiamiransomeverglades #kidshelpingkids ...
RISING STARS MIAMI brings OPERA to BREAKTHROUGH MIAMI at Ransom Everglades Middle School. Fantastic day at @breakthroughmiami with their 120 plus scholars enjoying “Papageno”, the @youngpatronessesoftheopera professional #inschoolopera version of Mozart’s Magic Flute. We are happy to have sponsored this performance as part of our Arts & Culture class that we teach on Saturdays at #breakthroughmiami. The best moment: after the performance when kids asked many questions and started coming up to ask about voice lessons! ⭐️ #risingstarsmiamiatbreakthrough #opera #inspiring #breakthroughmiamischolars #kidshelpingkids #communityservice #kidsteachingkids #operasingersofinstagram #operaforkids #youngpatronessesoftheopera #ransomeverglades #breakthroughmiamiransomeverglades #risingstarsmiami2020 ...
Rising Stars Miami is proud to sponsor PAPAGENO, the kids' version of Mozart's opera, the Magic Flute, to the whole campus of Breakthrough Miami scholars next Saturday! This production is part of @youngpatronessesoftheopera In School Opera Program that brings opera to over 30,000 Miami-Dade County schoolchildren each year. We are so proud to partner with @breakthroughmiami in teaching the Arts & Culture Class to their scholars!
#breakthroughmiami #risingstarsmiami #communityservice #inschoolopera #youngpatronessesoftheopera #breakthroughscholars #opera #kidsteachingkids #operaforkids #fortheloveofit #breakthroughmiami2020 #breakthroughmiamiransomeverglades#risingstarsmiamiatbreakthrough ...
Our kids are inspired by the arts to succeed #inspired #thearts #success #nextgeneration #communityservice #risingstarsmiami #kidsteachingkids #connectingcommunities #bringingtheartstolife ...
Lots of #risingstarsmiaminews today! ⭐️ Congrats and #breakaleg to our own Georgia Strump @georgia_027 on her debut on the London stage in “Umm Kulthum & the Golden Era” ! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻#UmmKulthum was the famous turn of the century Egyptian opera singer known as the Star of the East... can’t wait to hear all about it! #georgiastrump #stagedebut #risingstarsmiami #youngtalent #vocalist #actress #musicaltheatre #ummkulthumandthegoldenera #staroftheeast #operasinger #musicaltribute #westendtheatre #miamitalent ...
Congratulations to our talented RSM kids, @max_swietelsky, @esme.talent, and @natachagambyacting on their excellent performances this past Thursday at the @coralgablesmusicclub 80th Anniversary Gala! All three are scholarship recipients from this wonderful organization that has been recognizing and supporting South Florida musicians for decades. #coralgablesmusicclub #anniversarycelebration #cgmclub #scholarshiprecipient #pianist #vocalist ...
Congrats to our own @max_swietelsky and the @ransomevergladesschool #recombo for winning an impressive #2ndplace at the @national jazz festival in #philadelphia !! #impressive #jazzensemble #reproud #jazz #jazzcombo #nationaljazzfestival #maxswietelsky #congrats #altosax #miamitalent #keepingjazzalive #nextgeneration @ National Jazz Festival ...
Congrats to our own @max_swietelsky and the @ransomevergladesschool #RECombo for earning an impressive second place in the small ensemble category at the @national jazz festival in Philadelphia!! #maximilianswietelsky #reproud #jazz #jazzcombo #miamitalent #nationaljazzfestival #altosax #miamikids #REproud ...
Meet Jeanna... one of our scholarship recipients for #musicaltheatre who auditioned for us at @branchesflacity Thanks to @areastage for supporting #risingstarsmiami ⭐️ !#rsmscholarshipforthearts #branchesfloridacity #supportlocalartists #artsforall #dreambig ...
Stars⭐️ ...
#letartspeak TO YOU 💜 ...
Today we were also #breakthroughscholars and joined our 6th. grade @breakthroughmiami #artsandculture class on a special tour of the amazing Institute of Contemporary Art @icamiami museum in the @miamidesigndistrict . Thought-provoking installation by #robertgober #icamuseum #contemporaryart #teachingkids #criticalthinking #thoughtprovoking #artinstallation #artmuseum #museumday #miamilife #artappreciation #contemporaryartmuseum #artexhibition #artsforall #kidsofinstagram #risingstarsmiami ...