TV series spotlights Gilbert violinist Lindsey Stirling

Dancing violinist Lindsey Stirling of Gilbert will be featured on two episodes of the Ovation network series "Song By Song," airing at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 and Tuesday, Dec. 16.

"Song by Song: Lindsey Stirling" will shine a spotlight on the classically trained electronic violinist, dancer and composer who became a viral internet phenomenon. Stirling's videos are all available on her Lindseystomp YouTube channel, which has more than r 5.5 million subscribers and has earned more than 760 million view. "Crystallize" has more than 106 million views, Elements" has more than 49 million and the silhouette‐performing "Shadows" has more than 44 million.

Stirling's latest album, "Shatter Me," debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

The series takes an in-depth look at two of Stirling's biggest hits, with behind-the-scenes insights from renowned choreographer Laurianne Gibson, the Grammy-winning lead singer of Halestrom, Lzzy Hale, and singer-songwriter Dia Frampton, as well as Billboard's Andrew Hampp, Rolling Stone's David Wild and YouTube's Margaret Hart. Viewers will also hear intimate, behind-the-scenes stories from Stirling and her sister Brooke, as well as her drummer Drew Steen, her keyboardist Jason Gaviati and her tour manager Erich Jackson.

This week's episode will feature "Crystallize" while next week's looks at "Elements."

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Other episodes of "Song By Song" have featured Sheryl Crow, Blondie, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, so the rising star is in good company.

Stirling grew up in Gilbert and graduated from Mesquite High School, enjoying her first taste of national exposure in 2010 when the dancing violinist made the quarter-finals on "America's Got Talent." Piers Morgan took the shine off that experience, though, when he sniffed, "You're not untalented, but you're not good enough to get away with flying through the air and trying to play the violin at the same time."

YouTube views had a different take on Stirling's talents, making "Crystallize" the eighth most-watched YouTube video of 2012, with 42.9 million views.

Last year, the star told the Republic: "I tried a lot of different things to get my music out there. I drove to Vegas and gave out DVDs of me performing to talent agencies. I sent in resumes to different variety shows. I sent video links to all the TV shows. I sent my music to other artists, hoping to collaborate. I just worked so hard and hit so many dead ends. Then, I met a filmmaker named Devin Graham and he did my first YouTube video. I didn't know anything about YouTube but he offered to make me a free music video. And I thought, 'Gosh, of course.' "

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Twitter.com/EdMasley