It wasn’t until performing at a local school talent show that Victoria realized her true passion was for music and performance. There is no surprise where her hard work, dedication and talents come from. Being the daughter of a Greek mother and Italian father instilled the fire in her eyes to never give up on her dreams. This burning desire and talent in a young girl’s heart allowed her to land role after role in local musical productions; along with a role in “BIG RIVER” at Westchester Broadway Theatre. Victoria is honored and very proud of her latest achievement competing and performing at the World Famous Apollo in NYC this summer July 18 2012.

 

Her favorite subject in school is English/Writing. Victoria has a great future ahead of her she says " I am like a light switch, once I am performing I switch into a professional singer/ actress and want to make the audience happy." When her performance is done she switches back to a 9 yr old kid again.

 

Her Mom says: As a family we are all very supportive before I signed Victorias contract with her manager (Shirley Grant) we as a family sat and spoke and made sure we were all on board to do everything and anything for Victoria's career. Being that she has a younger sister we wanted to make sure that Bella was ok with it. Bella is 7 she is Victoria's biggest fan and always helps as much as she can.  

 

Victoria currently studies with under the watchful eye of vocal teachers Badiene Magaziner and Richard Lissemore, performance coach Trapper Felides and dance coach Melanie Lapatin, owner of Dance Times Square NYC and choreographer for the TV Show “So You Think You Can Dance”.

I grew up in Westchester County.  I am the 2nd of two boys; my mother works in healthcare, and my late father was an actor.  I've basically lived in Westchester my whole life, with the exception of my college years, which were spent in Washington, DC.  

I spent a lot of time around theatre as a child, because my dad was an actor.  I always loved theatre and pursued it as an extracurricular activity, but didn't really seriously consider it as a career choice until I was in my last year of college.  As I was approaching graduation and interviewing for "real jobs,"  I realized that the times I had been happiest and had the greatest sense of fulfillment were when I was performing.  There are a few people who have been really helpful in giving me guidance and opportunities.  Randy Skinner and Mary Jane Houdina are two such people.  

I first saw George M! when I was probably 2 or 3 years old.  My father played Jerry Cohan opposite Joel Grey as George on the national tour of the show and at the now defunct Kenley Players in Ohio.  Though when I saw the show, Ken Berry was playing George; my dad went on to play the part several more times over the course of his career.  Interestingly enough, my dad was also Joel Grey's understudy; Joel was actually older than my dad, but my dad's hair was completely grey by the time he was 30, so on stage he appeared older than he actually was.  I've never done the show before, but I did play George Cohan in the world premiere production of The Seven Little Foys, about New Rochelle's famous family of vaudevillians.  And I'm the voice of George Cohan on Paragon Ragtime Orchestra's recording of George Cohan's music, "You're a Grand Old Rag." 

In my free time I enjoy taking tap class, and try to go often, to keep my skills sharp.  There's also a decent chance you can find me watching cable news and HGTV.  I try to get to the gym 3-5 times per week, too.  
 

My music tastes are very eclectic.  My iPod has a lot of standards (e.g., Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Blossom Dearie) and big band (e.g., Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller) on it.  In the more contemporary rock & alt-pop realm, I love Martin Sexton, Rufus Wainwright, Wilco, Travis, & Arcade Fire.  The playlist that I listen to most often is my workout mix, which is upbeat, dance-pop music...stuff like Madonna, Beyonce, Missy Elliot, & Scissor Sisters.

Gabriella's first introduction to the screen and stage was when she was only 2 years old.  She first appeared in her father, Chazz Palminteri's film, NOEL playing the little girl in red. Her next role came when she was only 4 years old when she appeared as Little Ballerina in her mother, Gianna Palminteri's short film, The Bronx Balletomane which was also nominated for a Student Academy Award.  Her love for the stage and her natural voice led her to win the lead role in ANNIE for Westchester Youth Theatre. Playing Annie was what it took for Gabriella to realize the theatre is where she wants to spend her life. She loves to  study dance, ballet, voice and acting - Gabriella is living her dream and preparing for a life on stage.

 

 

I grew up in Reading, PA. My mom put me in dance classes at the age of 3 and I started singing in church soon after that. By the time I was 11 I was competing in dance competitions and I started doing the junior high musicals. My mom would let my friends and I take the bus to NYC to take class at Broadway Dance Center when it was still on 57th street and we would student rush a matinee or night show before catching the midnight bus back home to PA. When I did my first community theatre production in tenth grade, I played Zaneeta in THE MUSIC MAN and that was when I knew for sure that this was what I would go to college for. I never wanted to do anything else, but that confirmed that I was willing to really fight for it.

My voice teacher and dance teacher from PA were huge influences on me. I got to dance with Gregory Hines in my hometown right before he passed away-it was a huge moment for me. See above answer for other influences!