Alya Michelson

Alya Michelson (born July 4, 1983) is a Russian-born singer, songwriter, and philanthropist. Formerly a special correspondent for Russia's international news agency, RIA Novosti,[1] and a reporter for Vesti,[2]she is currently the co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies.[3]

Alya Michelson
Born
Alevtina Schepetina

July 4, 1983
Oryol, Russia
NationalityRussian
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Philanthropist, artist, singer, songwriter
OrganizationMichelson Philanthropies
Board member of
  • Found Animals Foundation
  • Michelson Medical Research Foundation
  • Michelson 20MM Foundation
SpouseGary Michelson
Websitehttps://www.alyamichelson.com/

She released her debut album, Ten Years of Solitude, in February 2019.[4]

Early life and education

Michelson (b. Alevtina Schepetina, 1983) was born in Oryol, Russia. While in high school, she worked at Russkoe Radio and as a freelance journalist for local publications. In addition to attending a traditional high school, she studied vocal technique at Oryol Musical School.[5]

Michelson attended Moscow State University, where she received a degree in journalism.[6] She earned a master's degree in economics from Moscow State Institute of International Relations.[7]

Career

Journalism and public relations

While in Russia, Michelson covered breaking news as well as business, politics, and the military as a special news correspondent for RIA Novosti.[2] Fluent in Japanese, she was initially based in Moscow, and later reported from Tokyo. As a journalist, she reported on stories such as the Kursk submarine disaster and the Beslan school siege.[8] She also contributed to the independent newspaper, Kommersant, and served as a freelance correspondent for the state TV channel, Vesti (Russia 24).[9]

Michelson enrolled at Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 2006. She graduated with a Master's Degree in Economics in 2008, and subsequently served as the spokesperson for the vice chairman of a State legislative body in the ruling assembly of Russia.[10][11]

Music

Michelson continued to compose music and sing while working as a journalist and public relations officer. In Tokyo, she co-founded and performed with the experimental group Japanica.[12] In 2018, while living in Los Angeles, she independently released her first single, "Animals",[13] and directed the music video for the song, which won a Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood Award.[14] She followed "Animals" with two additional singles, “Half of the Sun"[15] and "Puppet Strings."[16] "Puppet Strings" hit the Top 10 on the Euro Indie Music Chart and the Independent Airplay Chart.[17] "Animals" won a Best Music Video award at the California Women's Film Festival in January 2019.[18] She independently released her debut album, Ten Years of Solitude, in February 2019, produced and mixed by David J. Holman.[19] In April, it was nominated for four 2019 Independent Music Awards, including Best Electronic Album.[20]

Michelson released the single "American Beauty" in October 2019, also directing the song's music video.[21] Produced by Bill Schnee, a Dave Aude remix of the track charted on the Billboard dance club charts, peaking at #15 in February 2020.[22][23]In September 2021, she released the single "Pleasure is Mine", which was also produced by Schnee. It was the most added song on the November 23 2021 Billboard Pop Airplay/Mainstream Top 100 chart. [24]

In 2022, Alya provided vocals to White Sun's Grammy-award winning album Mystic Mirror.[25][26]

Philanthropy

Michelson serves on the board of directors for the Michelson Found Animals Foundation, Michelson Medical Research Foundation, and The Michelson 20MM Foundation.[27] She and her husband signed the Giving Pledge in 2016, committing to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes,[28] and in 2017 donated $50 million to found the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience at the University of Southern California.[29] In 2022, she was a recipient of the Inner City Law Center's Humanitarian Award.[30]

Personal life

Alya, who is fluent in four languages, lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Dr. Gary Michelson, and their three children.[31][12]

References
  1. "Иванов: сокращение службы не снизит обороноспособность". РИА Новости (in Russian). February 4, 2005. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  2. Ведомости (7 October 2010). "Владимир Ресин может остаться руководить Москвой еще на пару лет". www.vedomosti.ru.
  3. "In Los Angeles, Wellness Is Going to the Dogs". Town & Country. 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  4. McCall, Mindy (September 25, 2018). "Alya Michelson – Puppet Strings". No Depression.
  5. "Alevtina Schepetina Gold Medal Winner". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  6. "В МГУ им.М.В.Ломоносова прошел День первокурсника". www.msu.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  7. "Международное радио Китая". russian.cri.cn. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  8. "Алексей Березин, Алевтина Щепетина. Психологи призывают родителей как можно скорее привести побывавших в заложниках детей к специалистам, даже если сами родители не видят изменений в психическом состо". old.memo.ru. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  9. "Великая багдадская стена". Коммерсантъ. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  10. "Сообщение пресс-службы - Фракция "ЕДИНАЯ РОССИЯ"". www.er-duma.ru. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  11. "Мэрская измена". Газета.Ru. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  12. "Alya Michelson – Puppet Strings – Gashouse Radio". Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  13. Roberts, Mary (22 June 2018). "ALYA Brings Out the "Animals"". No Depression. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  14. "2018 Winners (Fall)". www.hollywoodcff.com.
  15. "ALYA Experiments with Cinematic Mystique on "Half of the Sun" (premiere)". PopMatters. 2 July 2018.
  16. "Alya Michelson - Puppet Strings". Indie Source.
  17. "APCCHART.COM © 1988 APC-stats EU/UE". www.euro200.net. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  18. "Winners". calwomensfest.com. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  19. "Buzz Music". BuzzMusic. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  20. "The 17th Independent Music Awards Nominees". Independent Music Awards. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
  21. Brungardt, Leah (1 December 2020). "All Access Music An Interview With Russian Songstress ALYA On Her Newest Music and More! | All Access Music". All Access Music. All Access Music Group. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  22. Hollywood Life Staff (2019-10-11). "ALYA Delivers Powerful Message To Women Immigrants With New Song 'American Beauty'". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  23. "Dance Club Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  24. "Pop Singer Alya Ties Adele For Most Adds In A Single Week - And Makes History As The First Russian Born Artist To Hit The Top 100 Pop Radio Airplay Charts With Her Latest Single "Pleasure Is Mine"". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  25. "Mystic Mirror - White Sun | Release Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  26. Tagat, Anurag (2023-02-06). "American Group White Sun on Winning the New Age Album Grammy Award". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  27. "World Open Education Week With Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  28. "Alya and Gary K. Michelson, M.D." Giving Pledge. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  29. Tong, Sabrina (2017-11-02). "USC celebrates opening of largest building on campus". Daily Trojan. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  30. "Inner City Law Center's 2022 Awards Luncheon". giving.innercitylaw.org.
  31. Pfferman, Naomi (2016-03-31). "Dr. Gary K. Michelson: Inventor and life-saver". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
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