Alya Michelson

{{Short description|Russian-born philanthropist, songwriter and singer}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Alya Michelson | honorific_suffix = | image = Alya Michelson Grammys.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Alevtina Schepetina | birth_date = | birth_place = Oryol, Russia | other_names = ALYA | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = {{hlist|Lomonosov Moscow State University|Moscow State Institute of International Relations}} | occupation = Philanthropist, artist, singer, songwriter | years_active = | employer = | organization = Michelson Philanthropies | agent = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | height =  | television = | boards = {{hlist|California Film Commission|Found Animals Foundation|Michelson Medical Research Foundation|Michelson 20MM Foundation}} | spouse = Gary Michelson | partner =  | children = | parents = | relatives = | awards = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | footnotes = | website = https://www.alyamichelson.com/ }} '''Alya Michelson''', also known as '''Alya''' (stylized as ALYA), is a Russian-born philanthropist, songwriter, and singer. A vocalist on the Grammy Award-winning album ''Mystic Mirror'' by White Sun, she was formerly a special correspondent for Russia's international news agency, RIA Novosti,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20050204/18060371.html|title=Иванов: сокращение службы не снизит обороноспособность|date=February 4, 2005|website=РИА Новости|language=ru|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> and a news anchor for Vesti-FM and Mayak.<ref name="Novosti">{{cite web|url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2010/10/07/mer_prikrytiya|title=Владимир Ресин может остаться руководить Москвой еще на пару лет|last=Ведомости|date=7 October 2010|website=www.vedomosti.ru}}</ref> She is the co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies and a member of the California Film Commission's board of directors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} California Film Commission |url=https://film.ca.gov/about/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |language=en}}</ref> She released her debut album, ''Ten Years of Solitude,'' in February 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nodepression.com/album-reviews/alya-michelson-puppet-strings/|title=Alya Michelson – Puppet Strings|last=McCall|first=Mindy|date=September 25, 2018|website=No Depression}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Michelson (b. Alevtina Schepetina) was born in Oryol, Russia in 1983. While in high school, she worked at Russkoe Radio and as a freelance journalist for local publications.<ref name=":1" /> In addition to attending a traditional high school, she studied vocal technique at Oryol Musical School.<ref name=":1" />

Michelson attended Moscow State University, where she received a degree in journalism.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.msu.ru/press/smiaboutmsu_arch/v_mgu_im_m_v_lomonosova_proshel_den_pervokursnika.html|title=В МГУ им.М.В.Ломоносова прошел День первокурсника.|website=www.msu.ru|language=ru|access-date=2019-03-31}}</ref> She earned a master's degree in economics from Moscow State Institute of International Relations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://russian.cri.cn/581/2008/07/29/1s246557.htm|title=Международное радио Китая|website=russian.cri.cn|access-date=2019-03-31}}</ref> ==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.<ref name="Novosti" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://old.memo.ru/hr/hotpoints/caucas1/msg/2004/09/m32087.htm|title=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|website=old.memo.ru|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> She also contributed to the independent newspaper, ''Kommersant'', and served as a news anchor for the national news stations Vesti-FM and Mayak.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/761234|title=Великая багдадская стена|work=Коммерсантъ|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref>

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 press secretary for the vice chairman of a State legislative body in the ruling assembly of Russia, leaving in 2012 to pursue music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.er-duma.ru/press/31078/|title=Сообщение пресс-службы - Фракция "ЕДИНАЯ РОССИЯ"|website=www.er-duma.ru|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2010/06/29_a_3392226.shtml|title=Мэрская измена|website=Газета.Ru|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> ===Music=== In 2018, while living in Los Angeles, Michelson independently released her first single, "Animals".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nodepression.com/article/alya-brings-out-animals|title=ALYA Brings Out the "Animals"|first1=Mary|last1=Roberts|date=22 June 2018|website=No Depression|access-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404185402/http://nodepression.com/article/alya-brings-out-animals|archive-date=4 April 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://gashouseradio.com/2018/09/alya-michelson-puppet-strings/|title=Alya Michelson – Puppet Strings – Gashouse Radio|language=en|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref> She also directed the music video for the song, which won a Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood Award and the Best Music Video award at the California Women's Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodcff.com/2018_Winners_(Fall).html|title=2018 Winners (Fall)|website=www.hollywoodcff.com}}</ref> She followed "Animals" with “Half of the Sun"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/alya-michelson-half-the-sun-2583009440.html|title=ALYA Experiments with Cinematic Mystique on "Half of the Sun" (premiere)|date=2 July 2018|website=PopMatters}}</ref> and "Puppet Strings"; <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theindiesource.com/cnt/3098/Alya-Michelson--Puppet-Strings/|title=Alya Michelson - Puppet Strings|website=Indie Source}}</ref> "Puppet Strings" hit the Top 10 on the Euro Indie Music Chart and the Independent Airplay Chart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.euro200.net/IndieChart.htm|title=APCCHART.COM © 1988 APC-stats EU/UE|website=www.euro200.net|access-date=2019-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://calwomensfest.com/Winners.html|title=Winners|website=calwomensfest.com|access-date=2019-03-09}}</ref>

Produced and mixed by David J. Holman, Michelson released her debut album, ''Ten Years of Solitude'', in February 2019.<ref name="Buzz">{{Cite web |date=3 March 2019 |title=Buzz Music |url=https://www.buzz-music.com/blog/multifaceted-and-rising-icon-alya-releases-mystic-and-magnetic-album |access-date=2019-03-31 |website=BuzzMusic |language=en}}</ref> In April, it was nominated for four Independent Music Awards, including Best Electronic Album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://independentmusicawards.com/17th-independent-music-awards-nominees/|title=The 17th Independent Music Awards Nominees|website=Independent Music Awards|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref> Michelson released the single "American Beauty" in October 2019 and directed its accompanying music video.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brungardt |first1=Leah |title=All Access Music An Interview With Russian Songstress ALYA On Her Newest Music and More! {{!}} All Access Music |url=https://music.allaccess.com/an-interview-with-russian-songstress-alya-on-her-newest-music-and-more/ |website=All Access Music |publisher=All Access Music Group |access-date=1 December 2022 |date=1 December 2020}}</ref> Produced by Bill Schnee, a Dave Aude remix of the track charted on the ''Billboard'' dance club charts, peaking at #15 in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2019/10/10/alya-new-song-american-beauty/|title=ALYA Delivers Powerful Message To Women Immigrants With New Song 'American Beauty'|author=Hollywood Life Staff|date=2019-10-11|website=Hollywood Life|language=en|access-date=2020-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs|title=Dance Club Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-03-15}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=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" |url=https://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=172878&cat= |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Top40-Charts.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, Michelson provided vocals for White Sun's Grammy-award winning album ''Mystic Mirror.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mystic Mirror - White Sun {{!}} Release Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/mystic-mirror-mr0005806669/credits |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagat |first=Anurag |date=2023-02-06 |title=American Group White Sun on Winning the New Age Album Grammy Award |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/white-sun-win-new-age-album-grammy-2023-mystic-mirror-gurujas-interview/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Rolling Stone India |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023, she released the single “Crazy” and the EP ''Crazy Remixes''. The EP was #1 on the iTunes dance charts for several weeks. Her December 2023 holiday EP featured "Silent Night", a duet with Eric Clapton. It charted in the UK and Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iTunesCharts.net: 'Silent Night (feat. Eric Clapton)' by ALYA (British Songs iTunes Chart) |url=http://www.itunescharts.net/uk/artists/music/alya/songs/silent-night-feat-eric-clapton/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=www.itunescharts.net}}</ref> Her song "Hope" was released in 2024. A second version of the song, "Hope: The Sequel" (featuring Erica Campbell and D Smoke), debuted on the ''Billboard'' digital gospel chart in May 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=May 5, 2025 |title=Gospel Digital Song Sales |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/gospel-digital-song-sales/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> ==Philanthropy== Michelson is the co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies. She serves on the board of directors for the Michelson Found Animals Foundation, Michelson Medical Research Foundation, Michelson Center for Public Policy, and The Michelson 20MM Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/agencyspy/world-open-education-week-with-dr-gary-michelson-and-alya-michelson/63261|title=World Open Education Week With Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson|website=www.adweek.com|date=10 March 2014 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-31}}</ref> She and her husband signed the Giving Pledge in 2016, committing to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://givingpledge.org/Pledger.aspx?id=244|title=Alya and Gary K. Michelson, M.D.|website=Giving Pledge|access-date=2019-03-09}}</ref> and in 2017 donated $50 million to found the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience at the University of Southern California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dailytrojan.com/2017/11/02/usc-celebrates-opening-largest-building-campus/|title=USC celebrates opening of largest building on campus|last=Tong|first=Sabrina|date=2017-11-02|website=Daily Trojan|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-13 |title=In Los Angeles, Wellness Is Going to the Dogs |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a39991630/michelson-found-animals-better-neighbor-project-pet-pop-up/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Town & Country |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2022, Michelson received the Inner City Law Center's Humanitarian Award.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inner City Law Center's 2022 Awards Luncheon |url=https://giving.innercitylaw.org/event/inner-city-law-centers-2022-awards-luncheon/e381543 |website=giving.innercitylaw.org}}</ref> She received the Humanitarian Award from the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Humanitarian Award - Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics |url=https://www.worldbrainmapping.org/active_award_gala/humanitarian-award/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |language=en-US}}</ref> In August 2024, on behalf of the Michelson Medical Research Foundation, Michelson and her husband gave the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy $100 million to establish two research facilities. They also gave $20 million to the institute to provide research grants for young students.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vincent |first=Roger |last2= |last3= |last4= |date=2024-08-27 |title=Major gift accelerates transformation of old mall into UCLA research hub |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-08-27/gift-to-launch-medical-research-institute-at-former-mall-owned-by-ucla |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Michelson has helped to find housing for refugees left homeless by the Russo-Ukrainian War.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff reporters |date=2024-10-07 |title=32. Gary Karlin Michelson |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/special-editions/wealthiest-angelenos/wealthiest-2024/32-gary-karlin-michelson/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Los Angeles Business Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References == {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://www.alyamichelson.com Official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michelson, Alya}} Category:Russian philanthropists Category:Russian women philanthropists Category:21st-century Russian women journalists Category:21st-century Russian journalists Category:Moscow State University alumni Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Russian pop singers Category:Russian women pop singers Category:21st-century Russian songwriters Category:Russian women songwriters Category:English-language Russian singers