Desert Roots Rising Stars: Where Music, Mentorship, and Artistic Vision Converge in Las Vegas
- Isabelle Karamooz
- May 18
- 5 min read
In a city often celebrated for spectacle and entertainment, the Desert Roots Rising Stars Music Festival is quietly building something far more enduring: a cultural ecosystem where mentorship, artistic excellence, and creative identity are nurtured with extraordinary care.
Founded by Shakeh Ghoukasian, the festival has become one of the most compelling emerging artistic initiatives in the American Southwest, bringing together amazing young musicians, internationally accomplished faculty artists, and immersive artistic collaborations that extend beyond the concert stage.
At its heart, Desert Roots Rising Stars is more than a summer music festival. It is a celebration of Las Vegas talent, artistic continuity, and the belief that young musicians deserve spaces where they can evolve not only technically, but creatively and emotionally.
As Shakeh explains:
“We don’t celebrate Las Vegas stars enough. We always look beyond our city, but there are so many young artists from here who have gone on to major conservatories, international orchestras, and celebrated careers around the world. I wanted to create something where they could come back, give back to the community they came from, and inspire the next generation.”
For Shakeh, who has spent nearly four decades teaching in Las Vegas, the festival is deeply personal. The name itself reflects that vision.
“We are in the desert, Las Vegas. The rising stars are artists with their desert roots.”
The concept may sound poetic, but the mission is profoundly practical: identify gifted young musicians, connect them with world-class mentorship, and expose them to artistic experiences that transcend traditional conservatory training.
Unlike many traditional music programs, Desert Roots Rising Stars places enormous emphasis on chamber music, collaboration, and intimate artistic dialogue.
Students between the ages of 13 and 22 audition for acceptance into the program, where they are paired thoughtfully according to both musical ability and social compatibility.
The experience is intensive. Young artists arrive prepared with assigned repertoire, then spend each day immersed in faculty coaching, ensemble rehearsals, and performance preparation.
For Shakeh, chamber music is transformational precisely because it shifts students away from anonymity and into leadership.
“It takes them away from a big orchestral section and puts them into a very small ensemble. It develops leadership, communication, listening, and confidence.”
One particularly moving story involved a young bass player who entered the program quietly and somewhat uncertain of himself.
“To see the transformation in his confidence and the transformation in his joy was remarkable,” Shakeh recalls. “Because of him, we opened a bass track this year.”
That philosophy of possibility permeates every aspect of the festival.
While rooted in classical training, Desert Roots Rising Stars also encourages experimentation, contemporary repertoire, jazz influences, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
“Young artists today are incredibly open creatively,” says Shakeh. “They’re interested in jazz fusion, electronic music, new repertoire. We want them to understand there’s so much more they can do artistically.”
This year marks a significant milestone for the organization through its partnership with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Fine Arts Program.
The collaboration expands the festival’s reach while strengthening its educational impact within the community.
“UNLV is a partner this year, which is a big step forward for us,” Shakeh explains. “We are now able to include college-level students and offer scholarships to pre-graduate UNLV musicians.”
The program is also offering eight tuition scholarships to UNLV students; an important step toward making advanced artistic training more accessible.
Perhaps one of the festival’s most distinctive qualities is its commitment to presenting performances in immersive artistic spaces rather than conventional concert halls.
For Shakeh, visual art and music belong in conversation with one another.
“When you perform surrounded by great artwork, something magical happens in the creative process,” she says. “People who love visual art and people who love music come together and experience something very special.”
This philosophy has become part of the festival’s signature identity.
This year’s faculty concerts perfectly embody that fusion.
Faculty Concert No. 1: Parisian Excursion
An Evening of Music, Elegance & Parisian Spirit
On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, audiences will be transported into a world of Parisian elegance during Parisian Excursion, presented at the breathtaking Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum.
The program celebrates the beauty, romance, and refinement of French-inspired music, moving from the Baroque sophistication of Jean-Philippe Rameau to the luminous impressionism of Maurice Ravel, while also incorporating operatic influences and beloved chansons by Charles Aznavour.
Featured faculty artists include:
Liam Mansfield
Shakeh Ghoukasian
Scott Jackson
Emily Richardson
Omar Shelly
Jeremy Russo
Brycen Ingersoll
Cecilia Violetta Lopez
The evening will also feature a Parisian-inspired reception curated in collaboration with The Tea Terrace and Cast Winery.
Free Admission
Tuesday, June 9, 20267:00 PM
Faculty Concert No. 2: Resonant Earth
Music in Reflection with Nature, Art & Space
On Thursday, June 11, 2026, the festival continues with Resonant Earth at the UNLV Barrick Museum of Art.
This immersive performance explores the relationship between sound, visual art, stillness, and nature within a contemplative, garden-inspired installation environment.
The program highlights music by:
Clara Schumann
Jennifer Bellor
Igor Stravinsky
Pierre Jodlowski
Atom Quartet
Featured faculty artists include:
Liam Mansfield
Shakeh Ghoukasian
Scott Jackson
Emily Richardson
Omar Shelly
Jeremy Russo
Alexandria Le
The evening is designed not simply as a concert, but as a meditative dialogue between environment, visual art, and musical resonance.
Free Admission – Limited Space Thursday, June 11, 20267:00 PM
Where Fashion Meets Music
One of the festival’s most exciting developments this season is its collaboration with fashion visionaries who understand that artistic identity extends far beyond performance alone.
The festival is partnering with Maceoo Paris founder Ricci Lopez and renowned designer Anne Fontaine to dress many of the young musicians throughout the festival.
The collaboration reflects the festival’s broader philosophy: music and fashion are both forms of storytelling.
“By bringing together fashion and music, we create an immersive experience that inspires students to embrace the full spectrum of artistic identity,” the festival shared.
Tailored silhouettes, elegant textures, and carefully curated visual aesthetics will transform the concert stage into what organizers describe as “a living canvas.”
The result is an artistic environment where musicians are encouraged not only to perform with excellence, but to embody confidence, individuality, and creative expression.
It is also an ambitious statement about the future of multidisciplinary arts programming in Las Vegas.
The Future of a Cultural Movement
What makes Desert Roots Rising Stars particularly compelling is that it does not attempt to imitate older institutions. Instead, it is creating something uniquely contemporary, intimate, and community-driven.
Its concerts remain free and accessible to the public. Its educational mission remains deeply local. Yet its artistic aspirations are undeniably international.
For Shakeh, the ultimate goal is not simply to build another music festival; it is to create a lasting cultural tradition.
“I want this to continue as a platform where music, art, mentorship, and creativity come together,” she says. “There is something magical when audiences experience all of these art forms together.”
And perhaps that is precisely what makes Desert Roots Rising Stars so important.
In a city built on reinvention and spectacle, the festival offers something increasingly rare: authenticity, artistic generosity, and a profound investment in the next generation of cultural voices.
For additional information, reach out to us at contact@frenchquartermagazine or directly to Shakeh Ghoukasian, Founder & Executive Director at info@desertrootsrisingstars.org.
Website: https://desertrootsrisingstars.org/
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