Julie Elias

After making the networking rounds in Hollywood, Julie Elias was well on her way to becoming an up-and-coming actress thanks to various extra roles on Grey's Anatomy (where she was a regular for two seasons), CSI: New York, Bones, Parks and Recreation, Weeds and other shows, as well as several films, including Due Date, starring Robert Downey Jr., and Larry Crowne with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

A Christmas trip to her hometown in 2010 caused Elias to reexamine her career options after she performed in her home church's praise and worship band and sang in some local concerts.

"It took a seemingly routine Christmas concert that year for me to realize what I've been called to do. In fact, Christmas of that year was the most clear-cut, obvious message I've ever received from God, period! It was as if He said 'I am spelling it out for you, in bold caps: PAY ATTENTION,'" Elias says.

At the beginning of 2011, Elias began making regular pilgrimages to Nashville to collaborate with Music City's top songwriters and producers. The trips resulted in her national debut CD, A Wild Rose, produced by acclaimed producer Robert White Johnson, whose body of work includes songwriting and production credits with such artists as Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Larnelle Harris, Johnny Van Zant and Michael Bolton.

"I've always believed you can hear words, but you can feel music," says Elias. "What is a relationship with God without feeling His presence through your entire being? Sometimes songs can touch you in a way that words cannot."

Surrounding the release of A Wild Rose, the singer/songwriter has shared the stage with some of Christian music's top artists at major festivals including Spirit West Coast, AtlantaFest, Ichthus, Creation NE, Cornerstone, Lifest, Sonshine and Creation NW. She also was chosen to perform on the Talent Spotlight Stage at Walt Disney World's popular Night of Joy and was selected for a soloist role in Ruth Graham's musical, Fear Not Tomorrow.