Lindsey Stirling

In 2010, at the age of 23, Stirling was a quarter-finalist on the fifth season of America's Got Talent, where she was described as a "hip hop violinist". Stirling's performances were dubbed "electrifying" by the judges, and won the acclaim of the audience, but after she attempted to step up the dance level in her quarter-final performance judge Piers Morgan told her, "You're not untalented, but you're not good enough to get away with flying through the air and trying to play the violin at the same time". Sharon Osbourne commented, "You need to be in a group... What you're doing is not enough to fill a theater in Vegas". In her blog, Stirling confided, "I was devastated at the results ... It was painful, and a bit humiliating; however, I had to relearn where it was that I drew my strength". Stirling decided to continue to embrace her unique style of performance, promoting herself on the Internet. In a 2012 interview she remarked, "A lot of people have told me along the way that my style and the music I do ... is unmarketable. But the only reason I'm successful is because I have stayed true to myself". Shortly after her performance on America's Got Talent, cinematographer Devin Graham contacted her in hopes of making a YouTube video together. They agreed to shoot a music video for her song, "Spontaneous Me". It was filmed the week of May 9, 2011. The video boosted Stirling's popularity, and she began making music videos for her YouTube channel regularly. Graham has filmed almost all of her videos, while Stirling often does backup camera work and assists with his music videos. Stirling's YouTube channel, Lindseystomp, which she created in 2007 and which is named after her first band "Stomp on Melvin", is the main repository for her music videos. Stirling has experimented in combining violin playing with hip hop and dubstep. Stirling's collaborations with other musicians and singers have included Shaun Barrowes (on "Don't Carry It All" – The Decemberists), Jake Bruene and Frank Sacramone (on "Party Rock Anthem" – LMFAO), Tay Zonday (on "Mama Economy"), Peter Hollens (on "Skyrim" and later with "Game of Thrones"), Alisha Popat (on "We Found Love"), John Allred (on "Tomb"), Kurt Schneider and Amiee Proal (on A Thousand Years), Megan Nicole (on "Starships"), The Piano Guys (on "Mission Impossible"), and Tyler Ward (on "Thrift Shop"). She has also collaborated with the Salt Lake Pops orchestra and Alex Boye. Stirling's debut album was released on September 18, 2012 in conjunction with a North American tour that same month. Stirling completed her first US Tour on November 26, 2012. She announced on December 3, 2012 that she is working on putting together a European tour, as well as another US tour starting in January 2013. The Tour will cover 55 cities throughout Europe, Canada & the US and last until April 5th, 2013. On February 25th 2013 she announced a new European tour, which will kick off in Moscow on May 22nd and end in Norrkoping, Sweden, June 29th, with a total of 26 cities covered. In December 2012, YouTube announced that Stirling's song, "Crystallize", was the #8 top viewed video of 2012 with over 42 Million views. Stirling recently completed collaborations with Youtube Artists Tyler Ward and Pentatonix.