Star-Studded Gala Will Benefit Performing Arts School

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- One of the country's finest schools for teens in the performing arts is here in downtown Baltimore.

Mike Schuh reports for them, this is a big weekend for the Baltimore School for the Arts.

If you're just walking by, you'd never know what's going on here. You'd never feel what they're feeling here; your eyes would never linger on the physical beauty they create.

"Well, I sing classical music. I'm a violinist," said Jazmin Babgura.

You'd never hear the natural talent of Baltimore teenager Jazmin Babgura who---while only a senior---can channel the great Mahalia Jackson.

But you can come inside.

"This is a real opportunity to have people come and see you and represent the school," said Quincy Dow.

This weekend, many of the 400 students at the Baltimore School for the Arts will leave their classwork behind to showcase their performance classes at their annual fundraiser gala.

"It's the only weekend where we bring everybody together to put on a show that has every aspect of the school involved, so it's huge," said BSA Director Chris Ford.

"But what came first is who you really are," said graduate Larry Gilliard.

Gilliard -- of "The Wire" and The Walking Dead"-- will co-host, along with graduate and Grammy nominee Antonio Hart. They return because this is the place that first taught them how to work their way inside the artists' circle.

"I had to overcome being nervous all the time and, as you can see, it worked," Gilliard said.

The Saturday night gala is sold out but there are under 200 tickets left for performances on Sunday and Monday. They cost between $10 and $100.

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