Electronic violinist and dancer Lindsey Stirling will perform in Valley Center on Tuesday as part of her 24-city “Snow Waltz” tour.
Stirling was born in the Orange County city of Santa Ana and grew up Gilbert, Ariz., but she loves making music about snowy sleigh rides and ice storms during the Christmas season.
“I always love touring, but touring at Christmas is my absolute favorite, and I think this year’s Christmas show is going to be the best one yet,” she said in a statement about the “Snow Waltz” tour, which is named after her 2022 holiday album.
Stirling, 37, got her start in performing by competing in teen pageants during her high school years in Arizona. When she was 23 years old, she made it to the quarterfinals on Season 5 of TV’s “America’s Got Talent,” where she had a unique act — incorporating hip-hop dancing into her violin performance of hip-hop, pop and classical music.
After the TV show, she launched a YouTube channel featuring music videos of herself playing violin and dancing and quickly amassed an online following that has since grown to nearly 14 million followers. Her music videos have generated nearly 3 billion views on YouTube, and she has more than 4 million followers on TikTok.
Using YouTube as a marketing platform, she has become both a successful recording and touring artist.
In 2015, she was named to Forbes Magazine’s list of “30 Under 30,” representing 30 financially successful young entrepreneurs. Forbes ranked Stirling No. 4 on its 2015 World’s Top-Earning YouTube Stars list.
In 2016, she published her autobiography, “The Only Pirate at the Party.” Its title refers to her successful style of breaking the rules to succeed. In 2017 she competed as a contestant on Season 25 of “Dancing With the Stars,” but had to bow out due to injuries.
Stirling has been open about growing up in the Mormon church and having a deep religious faith. But she has also become an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Her comments and views have sometimes generated negative public reactions on social media. In her autobiography she wrote about how she developed a thick skin.
“In the music industry I get a lot of public judgment. Any time the topic of my religion surfaces, there are always people who react negatively, telling me to leave my crazy beliefs out of it. The problem is, I can’t. My beliefs are as much a part of my being as my music, or my family, or my obsession with earthy-tasting cereal. Luckily, after all the rejection I faced on my mission, I’m no longer afraid of negative reactions. I’ve already heard it all — face-to-face. Hateful comments still hurt, but they don’t hold the same weight they once did.”
Stirling also wrote about how she has relied on her self-confidence and personal drive to persevere during challenging times.
“I don’t claim to be the best musician,” she wrote. “If being the best means I earn the right to look down on people and critique their accomplishments in defense of my own, I don’t ever want to be. People can say what they want about my music being ‘banal’ and my skill level ‘competent,’ and it will hurt my feelings (because despite what some believe, I do still have them), but I won’t let it determine my self-worth.”
Stirling’s second holiday album, “Snow Waltz” is a 13-song collection that includes traditional songs like “Sleigh Ride,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Little Drummer Boy” with original works like “Snow Waltz” and “Ice Storm.” The album features collaborations with singer-songwriters David Archuleta and Bonnie McKee.
San Diego has been the starting point for two of Stirling’s world tours. In May 2014 she launched her second world tour in San Diego to support her album “Shatter Me.” It featured 77 concerts in the U.S. and Europe. In October 2016, San Diego was once again the starting point for her 79-show “Brave Enough” tour. For this year’s holiday tour, San Diego is the fifth stop on her U.S. tour. She plans to announce European dates in 2024 soon.
One dollar from every ticket sold on the “Snow Waltz” tour will go to Stirling’s 3-year-old Upside Fund charity, which she launched in April 2020 to support people struggling with medical bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the charity has erased $5 million in medical debt for needy individuals people in need.
Lindsey Stirling Snow Waltz Tour
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Events Center, Harrah’s Resort Southern California, 777 Resort Drive, Valley Center
Tickets: $62-$101
Online: harrahssocal.com