August, 2024 — Girls in Gowns is a unique musical initiative created by singer and actor Maria
Howell. This collaborative project features female performers coming together to showcase their
talents while dressed in elegant gowns.

The inaugural performance of “Girls in Gowns” took place at a fundraising event over a decade
ago, for Students Without Mothers, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students,
who have lost their mothers.

Maria Howell became a passionate supporter of Students without Mothers when she heard
Founder Mary Torrence Williams talk about young women trying to work through the challenges
of making it to and through college as young women who have lost a mother. Maria, the oldest
of six siblings, went to college on a scholarship, and empathizes with the gravity of such a loss
during that special time in life.

Students Without Mothers is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering high school
students to continue their education. The organization’s main purpose is to provide scholarships
for college-bound high school students who are without their mothers due to death or other
unfortunate circumstances.

More about Students without Mothers…

The event theme is encouraging girls to realize their dreams. Maria Howell had a childhood
dream of singing in an elegant evening gown, like the great ladies of jazz: Billie Holiday, Ella
Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Nancy Wilson. She also dreamed of forming an all-female jazz band.
So when asked to perform for the organization, this idea came together.

Over time, this event has become a highly anticipated occasion. The concept blends various
musical genres, highlighting the diverse capabilities of each performer. The powerhouse talent
of the four Girls in Gowns on the stage is unique.

Maria Howell, singer, actor, philanthropist & event founder
Maria is known to mesmerize Middle C audiences with her captivating melodies. She is also
well known as an actor and voiceover artist on TV, movies, radio, and her personal favorite,
animation. Beyond her success as song stylist and actor, Maria is a devoted supporter of the
nonprofit, Students Without Mothers, where she has served on the BOD and Advisory Board for
over 10 years.
More about Maria Howell…

Tracy Hamlin, international vocalist
Tracy is an international soul songstress who fuses the boundaries between Soul, Jazz, R&B,
and Dance music. She has toured internationally as a lead background vocalist for Disco
Queen Gloria Gaynor, and performed alongside numerous music legends, including Carlos
Santana, Marcus Miller, Will Downing, Jonathan Butler, Esperanza Spalding, and Chaka Khan,
to name a few. With a heart for youth, in her behind the scenes work, Tracy has applied her talents to support a new generation of young musicians through programs for students of low-
income families and students with dyslexia.
More about Tracy Hamlin…

Ronee Martin, R&B jazz studio vocalist
She can be heard background singing for Patti LaBelle and Wynton Marsalis and has worked
along the way with superstars Burt Bacharach, David Foster, Patrick Williams and Barry Mann.
She has recorded numerous voice-overs for TV and for audiobooks. A contestant on Season
11’s America’s Got Talent, she brought the audience to its feet singing “Natural Woman.” Ronee
is passionate about the support of the music industry contributing her voice to nonprofits of
education, musician support, and youth.
More about Ronee Martin…

Karen Briggs, contemporary jazz violinist
Currently regarded by many as one of the most legendary violinists of our time, Karen Briggs
has developed an impressive career as an early elite in the evolution of the contemporary violin.
Her signature approach to the violin has been featured in concerts taking place at historic
venues in fifty countries.
More about Karen Briggs…

Joining these ladies is an equally impressive band including Noel Freidline on piano/keys, Zack
Page on bass and Justin Varnes on drums.
Attendees are welcome to simply enjoy the music of four powerful jazz artists. But if attendees
are moved to support the cause, there is opportunity.
“Fifteen years ago, Girls in Gowns began as an extraordinary vision—a concert where the grace
of music and the elegance of performance would come together to support a cause close to our
hearts. What started as a unique benefit concert has grown into a cherished event, with talented
female performers in stunning gowns raising vital scholarship funds for our students.” – Maria
Howell.