Duke Ellington Center for the Arts to Introduce Jazz Vocal Competition 10/25

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA) will introduce its 1st Jazz Vocal Competition at New York City's 40th Annual 52nd Street Duke Ellington Jazz Festival on Saturday, October 25, 2014, it was announced here today by renowned dancer/choreographer Mercedes Ellington, founder and artistic director of DECFA. The Competition, featuring a total of 22 male and female singers, will take place between 1:00 and 4:00 PM on the Festival Performance Stage at the southeast corner of 52nd Street and Avenue of Americas, directly across from the CBS Broadcast Center. The Festival begins at noon and continues through 6:00 PM along 52nd Street between 5th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan. The Festival and Vocal Competition will be held rain or shine.

"The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts was founded in 2004 with a mission to preserve and advance into the 21st century and beyond the creative and philosophical legacy of Duke Ellington, an American icon who is one of the most prolific musical geniuses of the 20th century, through performances and education," said Ms. Ellington, the Duke's granddaughter. "This Vocal Competition, featuring up and coming jazz vocalists from diverse backgrounds and providing them with public and media recognition, is something Duke would strongly support."

Each vocal competitor will be given the opportunity to perform two musical numbers of their choice. They will be supported on keyboard by Rachel A. Kaufman. Two finalists will be awarded cash prizes; the First Place winner will receive $250, and the first runner-up will be awarded $150.

The judging panel will include Mercedes Ellington; noted jazz singer Antoinette Montague; songwriter, composer and arranger Larry Kerchner; and Marilyn Lester, executive director of DECFA. All are members of the Ellington Center's Board of Directors.

The competitors, listed in alphabetical order, are: Colette Boudreaux, Catherine Cavender, Tosca Colibri, Candace Calcleasure, Emily Dennis, Jaymee Frankel, Rachel Haines, Stella Heath, Kathryn Holtkamp, Kelsey Anne Johnson, Catharine Kay, Robert Mintz, Myriam Phiro, Elsa Scott, David Serero, Shuuhei Shimizu, Katie Rose Summerfield, Jasmine Thomas, Kimberly Michelle Thomas, Kevin Tucker, Dennis Williams and Noel Wippler.

The Vocal Competition replaces the Bob Stewart Tuba Competition which has been featured at the Duke Ellington 52nd Street Jazz Festival the past two years. According to Ms. Ellington, the Tuba Competition will be rescheduled for a future date at a different venue.

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts was founded to further the knowledge about this American icon as a composer, lyricist, bandleader, performer, artist and writer as well as to advance Ellington's creative legacy and his philosophy of human harmony 'beyond category.' The Center mounts performances that wed Ellington's music with other art forms, especially dance; and also sponsors a variety of educational initiatives. As funding for the Arts and Arts Education continues to diminish, the Center's commitment to these areas continues to grow stronger. The Center also strives to keep a historically accurate record of 'all things Ellington' for the benefit of future generations and seeks to inspire all people to become Ambassadors for Peace and Harmony through the magic of the Arts and music, one note at a time. For more information, visit: www.thedukellingtoncenter.org.