Songbook Vocal Academy & Competition

What it is:

The Great American Songbook High School Vocal Academy & 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. The Vocal Academy & Competition was created to provide an opportunity for young people to experience firsthand this uniquely American music and its cultural significance.

The “Great American Songbook,” sometimes referred to as “American Standards,” is the uniquely American collection of popular music from Broadway and Hollywood musicals prevalent from the 1920s to 1960s. The songwriters of the Great American Songbook translated positive values and an optimistic spirit into the soundtrack of American life. These values are as true and applicable today as they ever have been.

How it works:

Regional finalists for the 2013 competition will be selected from the following eligible states: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.

High school students from any one of the 22 eligible states are invited to submit audio recordings of two contrasting songs from the Great American Songbook. See list of suggested composers below.

Judges will select students for regional competitions held in five cities across the country. The regional competitions, held April 2013 - June 2013, include a full day of workshops followed by an evening performance. Two finalists will be selected in each region.

The ten regional finalists will be invited to the Feinstein Initiative’s headquarters in Carmel, IN, July 21-26, 2013, to participate in a five-day “boot-camp” 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.

The first place winner receives $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 first place winner will serve as the Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador for one year and will have opportunities to perform throughout the year. Second place will receive $2,000 and third place will receive $1,500.

How to apply:

By March 31, 2013, the following must be completed:

• Register and complete online application
• Upload color photo of applicant
• Upload recordings of two songs (MP3, MP4 or .wav formats accepted). Video recordings will not be accepted.
• Submit application fee: $50 on or before January 31, 2013 for Early Registration Discount; $100 on or after February 1, 2013. (Scholarships may be available for students with financial need)

Suggested composers:

• Harold Arlen • Irving Berlin • Hoagy Carmichael • Vernon Duke • Duke Ellington
• George and Ira Gershwin • Jerome Kern Burton Lane • Frank Loesser • Lerner and Loewe
• Hugh Martin • Johnny Mercer • Cole Porter • Rodgers and Hart • Rodgers and Hammerstein
• Arthur Schwartz • Jule Styne • Johnny Burke • Jimmy Van Heusen • Vincent Youmans
• and other composers from this era. 

For more song recommendations click here.
For questions about song selection, feel free to contact us at: info@FeinsteinInitiative.org

For questions about the application and competition, please contact Chris Lewis, Director of Vocal Academy and Competition, at clewis@feinsteininitiative.org or 317-844-9446.

Apply:

Please read and accept the Official Rules of the competition and then click Apply Now to begin. For frequently asked questions, click here.

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   I have read and accepted the Official Rules.