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Thursday, July 02, 2009
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By John Brainerd, PDG
Young Singer of the Year Competition celebrates its 24th Anniversary. It was in 1985 on a flight returning from Europe that David Valentine overheard a conversation involving Joe Huszti, then the Choral Director of University of California, Irvine. That conversation led to a discussion about the lack of competition available for young singing talent in Orange County and the Southern California area. David told Joe, "I know where to get the man power and the funding if you can get the facilities and technical expertise through the University of California, Irvine. A partnership was formed and is now an annual event that excites the Southern California singing community."
This year, 16-plus Rotary Clubs sponsored 60 participants in the preliminary round held on Saturday, March 21. Of this group, 12 were selected, three in each of the four divisions, to participate in the finals which were held on March 22 in the Winifred Smith Concert Hall at UCI. That presentation saw the largest attendance in many years at the singing finals. Everyone was excited by the quality of the competition and the level of achievement of the students.
The judging was conducted by outstanding individuals in their field. The preliminary judges were drawn from the music departments of Chapman University, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, as well as UCI. The finals were judged by Dr. Matthew Tresler, Chair of the Choral and Vocal Program at Irvine Valley College. Each participant, during the preliminaries, received a written evaluation from the judges and the finalists received both a written evaluation as well as an opportunity to talk to Matthew Tresler during the reception that followed the program. The winners for 2009 are as follows:
Female Classical
Gold Emily Dyer, Cerritos/Artesia Rotary Club
Silver Melody Stolpp, Tustin/Santa Ana Rotary Club
Bronze Holly Starr, Mission Viejo Rotary Club
Female Theater
Gold Hannah Schwartz, San Clemente Rotary Club
Silver Jennifer Wise, Orange North Rotary Club
Bronze Tiffany Tatreau, Cerritos/Artesia Rotary Club
Male Classical
Gold Daniel McGrew, Fountain Valley Rotary Club
Silver Andrew Neumayer, Tustin/Santa Ana Rotary Club
Bronze Chris Maze, San Clemente Rotary Club
Male Theater
Gold Nathan Willingham, Tustin/Santa Ana Rotary Club
Silver Ryan Yoder, Placentia Rotary Club
Bronze Zackery Zumbek, Orange Rotary Club
Many of the singers had their own accompanist, but those that did not had the privilege of working with David Dean Shepard, who participated in both the semi-finals and the finals. David made himself available for two hours before the finals so that each student could rehearse with him and be certain that their program was polished. Dean holds degrees in Piano and Choral Conducting from UCI and has written numerous musicals and television shows.
Joe Huszti served as moderator and arranged for the judges and accompanists. He and the staff of University of California arranged the Hall, set up the logistics and handled the programs for the competition.
Each of the finalists will be performing at the District Awards Program to be held on May 12 at the Doubletree Hotel in Orange.
Rotary District 5320 and
The University of California, Irvine,
Department of Music
Claire Trevor School of the Arts
Young Singer of the Year Competition
ROTARY DISTRICT 5320 SINGER
OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
I. SUGGESTIONS FOR SELECTION OF CONTESTANTS
A. Contact local High School Principals, Music or Drama Teachers, Church Youth Choir or Private Voice Teachers in your area, for names of possible candidates, or
B. Schedule a club program/competition with judges from high schools, local voice teachers, church youth directors, youth choir directors, or club members; a great program; or
C. Encourage high schools to have a competition and send winners to club to perform for one of your programs
NOMINATE ONE IN EACH CATEGORY, OR MORE, IF THE CATEGORY HAS MORE THAN 6 CONTESTANTS OR THE QUALITY WARRANTS MORE THAN ONE IN A CATEGORY.
SELECTION PROCESS MUST BE COMPLETED BY MARCH 2, 2009, COMPETITION IS VERY STRONG—BE VERY SELECTIVE—NO MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CONTESTANTS MAY BE ENTERED BY ANY ONE ROTARY CLUB. (Suggestions that each club enter 4 contestants, one in each category)
II. APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR SEMI-FINAL COMPETITION AT THE UCI.
A. ROTARY CLUB completes an application for each contestant they enter into the Semi Final competition. Club sends all applications (NO LIMIT)
To: ROTARY DISTRICT 5320
C/O John H. Brainerd
400 N. Tustin Avenue, Suite 290
Santa Ana, CA 92705
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS TO JOHN H. BRAINERD:
All applications should be in my office by March 2, 2009.
III. LOCATION AND TIME OF THE SEMI FINALS AND FINALS:
SEMI FINALS: UCI CONCERT HALL on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at 8:00 AM
FINALS UCI CONCERT HALL on Sunday, March 22, 2009, at 3:00 PM (RECEPTION FOLLOWING)
FIRST PLACE WINNERS WILL PERFORM AT THE DISTRICT 5320 CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 27 OR SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2008
IV. AWARDS
SEMI FINALISTS WILL RECEIVE CERTIFICATES, AND A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR ADJUDICATION FROM PROFESSIONAL ADJUDICATORS.
FINALIST WILL RECEIVE THE ABOVE PLUS CASH AWARDS AND MEDALIONS IN ADDITION TO OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS PERFORMANCE WITH ADJUDICATOR.
V. ELIGIBILITY
THE CONTEST IS OPEN TO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN CURRENTLY ATTENDING A HIGH SCHOOL LOCATED WITHIN THE ROTARY DISTRICT 5320, Orange and Southern Los Angeles Counties.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SINGER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM
The program is designed to encourage high school students as they develop the art of solo singing. Singers will compete in one of four divisions and at three levels.
The preliminary competition will take place at the local Rotary Club level. EACH CLUB IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SELECTING THE CANDIDATES IT WISHES TO SPONSOR. The SEMI FINALS will be held at UCI and the twelve selected top performers will compete at UCI the next day in the FINALS.
Singers are expected to commit from 9:00 a.m. -12:30 pm for workshop presentations and competition and listening to others.
DIVISIONS OF COMPETITION
CLASSICAL (OPERA AND ART SONGS): FEMALE AND MALE CATEGORIES
MUSICAL THEATER (Broadway show tunes, operettas, movies): FEMALE AND MALE CATEGORIES
ACCOMPANIST: a solo pianist should accompany All selections. The singer may provide their own or one will be provided on the day of the competition. (NO TAPES) UCI provides excellent accompanists.
SHEET MUSIC: A single copy of all selections must be provided for the adjudication on the day of competition. All music will be returned immediately following the event. ABSOLUTELY NO PHOTOCOPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
JUDGES: PRELIMINARY COMPETITION IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LOCAL Rotary Club
SEMI FINAL COMPETITION WILL BE Music Faculty from around Southern California
FINAL COMPETITION will be adjudicated by a visiting guest professional.
EACH CONTESTANT AT THE SEMI FINALS WILL SING ONE SELECTION, NO MORE THAN FIVE (5) MINUTES LONG. FINALISTS WILL SING TWO CONTRASTING SELECTIONS, TOTALING NO MORE THAN TEN (10) MINUTES.
QUESTIONS: DAVE VALENTINE, ROTARY COORDINATOR
OFFICE (714) 532-6813, CELL (949) 644-7016 or JOHN H. BRAINERD
ROTARY CLUB APPLICATION DEADLINE: All applications should be in John Brainerd’s office by March 2, 2009.
2009 COMPETITION WILL BE MARCH 21ST AND 22ND
PRELIMINARY COMPETITION AT UCI
SATURDAY MARCH 21 FROM 8:00 AM TO 1:00 PM
AND
FINALS SUNDAY MARCH 22, 2008 FROM 3:00 PM TO 6:00 PM INCLUDING THE RECEPTION FOLLOWING THE FINALS PERFORMANCES.
THIS YEAR UCI WILL ALSO PROVIDE OPERA AND
MUSICAL THEATER WORKSHOP EXPERIENCES
FOR CONTESTANTS
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