Way to go! Christina Ames, Old Westbury

Christina Ames, a senior at The Wheatley School in Old Westbury, was one of 150 finalists nationwide last month selected to participate in YoungArts, a program of master classes, performances and exhibits coordinated by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.

Ames - among 7,000 teens nationwide to apply - earned her selection by sending in a video of her past work in musical theater and attending a final review with a national panel.

"It was so incredible and inspirational and amazing," Ames said of the program, which was held in Miami Jan. 10-15. "It was an opportunity to really work on your craft, and I never felt so lucky. We learned to take a much more truthful approach to acting."

Ames attended master classes with Norwegian actress and film director Liv Ullman and actress Kerry Washington, best known for her role as Ray Charles' wife in the 2004 film "Ray."

Ames also performed the song "I Know the Truth" from the Elton John/Tim Rice musical "Aida" at the Gussman Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.

She has previously acted in the upstate Frencah Woods Festival for the Performing Arts and in "A Christmas Carol" at Madison Square Garden in 2003. -