FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chris Lewis, Director of Vocal Academy and Competition
317-844-9446 / clewis@feinsteininitiative.org
CONTACT: John R. Hughey, The Center for the Performing Arts
317-660-3377 / jhughey@TheCenterPresents.org
b-roll: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEMDwagJ4Jw
Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/feinsteininitiative
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN LAUNCHES 2014 AMERICAN SONGBOOK COMPETITION
CARMEL – The Great American Songbook High School Vocal Competition, the signature education program of the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative, announces the opening of its 2014 application season. The application is available online at www.FeinsteinInitiative.org until March 31, 2014.
Now in its fifth year, the Great American Songbook High School Vocal Competition provides young singers with the life-changing opportunity to work with music industry professionals to experience firsthand the uniquely American and culturally significant music known as the Great American Songbook.
The Great American Songbook High School Vocal Competition is a celebration of the Golden Age of American Popular music. This program is the only high school vocal competition in the U.S. dedicated solely to the music from Broadway, Hollywood musicals and the Tin Pan Alley era of the early to mid-twentieth century.
Chris Lewis, Vocal Competition Director, said “This national program is a comprehensive educational experience where students work one on one with world class mentors to learn how to interpret this classic American music, as well as what it takes to work as a performer today.”
High school students grades 9-12 have the opportunity to participate in workshops and master classes with music industry professionals. Judges will select students for regional competitions held in six cities across the country. The regional competitions, held May-June 2014, include a full day of workshops followed by an evening performance. Two finalists will be selected in each region.
The twelve regional winners will be invited to the Feinstein Initiative’s headquarters in Carmel, IN, July 20-25, 2014, to participate in a five-day academy on interpreting and performing the music of the Great American Songbook. Five-time Grammy nominee, Michael Feinstein, and other top music industry professionals will conduct workshops and master classes throughout the week. The final competition performance will be held in the 1,600 seat Palladium Concert Hall at the Center for the Performing Arts.
One student will be awarded the title of Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador and will receive $3000 and the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to perform with two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award nominated entertainer and founder of the Feinstein Initiative, Michael Feinstein. The Youth Ambassador will serve for one year and will have opportunities to perform throughout the year.
Other awards include Songbook Inspiration Award and Songbook Celebration Award, each receiving $1000 toward continuing music education.
“This year’s competition was the best and most extensive yet. In addition to the master classes and workshops with our guest mentors, the students had the opportunity to explore the MFI Archives and collections to learn about the songwriters who created the music of the Great American Songbook. They built relationships with other talented singers and mentors from coast to coast. They made memories bursting with music and, in the process, developed character, confidence, and an appreciation for history,” said Michael Feinstein, founder of the Feinstein Initiative and Songbook Vocal Competition.
Regional finalists for the 2014 competition will be selected from the following eligible states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau is a sponsor of the vocal competition. www.VisitHamiltonCounty.com
Description
The Great American Songbook High School Vocal Competition was created to provide an opportunity for young people to experience firsthand this uniquely American music and its cultural significance.
The Vocal Competition is designed to be a collaborative, rewarding, and fun experience for all participants. Regional competitions consist of one-day intensives focused on singing and interpreting the music of the Great American Songbook, led by music educators and industry professionals. Two winners from each of the six regional events proceed to the final competition week at the Feinstein Initiative’s headquarters at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, IN. Students will have the opportunity to participate in workshops, one-on-one coaching sessions, and master classes with celebrity performers and music industry professionals. The final week’s events will culminate in a live show on July 25, 2014, at the Palladium in Carmel, IN, where the top three winners will be selected. The Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador will have opportunities to perform throughout the year representing the Michael Feinstein Initiative.
Competition Mentors
World-class performers have served as coaches and mentors for the Vocal Competition. These talented individuals have shared a wealth of encouragement, inspiration, and performance techniques with students, for an amazing once in a lifetime experience. Competition mentors for the 2013 Vocal Competition included two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award nominee, Michael Feinstein; Two-time Grammy nominee, Jane Monheit; Five-time Grammy winner, Sandi Patty; Two-time Grammy winner and Emmy winner, Sylvia McNair.
6 Easy Steps to Apply:
- Read official rules and Frequently Asked Questions
- Click Application Button
- Register and complete online application
- Upload color photo
- Upload recordings of two songs (MP3, MP4 or .wav formats accepted). Video recordings will not be accepted.
- Submit application fee of $50.00
Prize Information
Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador will receive $3,000 and the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to perform with two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award nominated entertainer and founder of the Feinstein Initiative, Michael Feinstein. The Youth Ambassador will serve for one year and will have opportunities to perform throughout the year. Past Youth Ambassador performance opportunities have included:
- Appearances with Michael Feinstein
- Great American Songbook Hall of Fame Gala – with Barry Manilow, Liza Minnelli, Jimmy Webb
- National Anthem at NFL game
- Appearance with Pasadena Pops – with Marvin Hamlisch
Songbook Inspiration Award Winner will receive $1,000
Songbook Celebration Award Winner will receive $1,000
The Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative
Michael Feinstein founded the Great American Songbook Initiative in 2007 in order to preserve, promote, and perpetuate the music of the Great American Songbook. The mission of the Initiative is to inspire and educate by celebrating the Great American Songbook. The work of the Feinstein Initiative includes:
- High School Vocal Competition
- Educational programming
- Library, Archive, and Gallery
- Great American Songbook Hall of Fame
To learn more, visit: www.FeinsteinInitiative.org
About Michael Feinstein
Michael Feinstein, the multi-platinum-selling, two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominated entertainer dubbed “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” is considered one of the premier interpreters of American standards. His 200-plus shows a year have included performances at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House and the Hollywood Bowl as well as the White House and Buckingham Palace.
More than simply a performer, Feinstein has received national recognition for his commitment to celebrate America’s popular song and preserve its legacy for the next generation. In 2007, he founded the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative, dedicated to celebrating the art form and preserving it through educational programs, Master Classes, and the annual High School Vocal Competition, which awards prizes to students across the country. Michael serves on the Library of Congress’ National Recording Preservation Board; an organization dedicated to ensuring the survival, conservation and increased public availability of America’s sound recording heritage.
Feinstein serves as Artistic Director of the Center for the Performing Arts, a $170 million, three-theater venue in Carmel, Indiana, which opened in January 2011. The Center is home to the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative Archive and museum. Starting in 2010, he became the director of the Jazz and Popular Song Series at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center. In 2013, he will replace the late Marvin Hamlisch as the lead conductor of the Pasadena Pops.
Feinstein can be seen on PBS in his award winning series, Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook. He can also be heard on NPR in his current show, Song Travels with Michael Feinstein. His new book, The Gershwins and Me, which is combined with a new CD of Gershwin standards performed with Cyrus Chestnut at the piano, was released by Simon & Schuster in October 2012.
Media links
Watch highlight reel of Vocal Competition:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNI4rB_S6w8
Watch video of 2013 Winner, Julia Goodwin, Perform at the Competition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QJpSe-_EHk&feature=c4-overview&list=UU2-QryLNaFKRO-oiM0ab8dA
Watch video of 2012 Winner, Nick Ziobro, Perform at the Competition:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GwySr0qums
Watch promotion reel for Vocal Competition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDtuVIFPdkI&feature=c4-overview&list=UU2-QryLNaFKRO-oiM0ab8dA
Read review of 2013 Final Competition performance:
http://www.examiner.com/review/15-year-old-singer-wins-feinstein-vocal-competition
Read Photo Flash - BroadwayWorld.com:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Photo-Flash-Julia-Goodwin-Wins-2013-Great-American-Songbook-Vocal-Competition-20130729;?%3E
Read ‘Feinstein Vocal Competition Winners Remember and Reflect – Examiner:
http://www.examiner.com/article/feinstein-vocal-competition-winners-remember-and-reflect
Read ‘Idol Competition at Carmel Palladium Celebrates Songbook’-Indy Star:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20130717/LOCAL01/307170082/-Idol-competition-Carmel-s-Palladium-celebrates-Songbook
Read ‘Saving the Songbook’ – Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203806504577180851919293834.html
Information: www.FeinsteinInitiative.org
Information: www.TheCenterPresents.org
The mission of the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative is to inspire and educate by celebrating the Great American Songbook.
