Atlanta Symphony Announces 2010 Symphony Songster 2010 Finalists

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Turner Classic Movies today announced the three finalists for the "Atlanta Symphony Songster 2010" amateur vocal competition. They are: Joseph Brewer (Columbus, GA), Rebekah Dossou (Lilburn, GA), and Christina Lewis (Cincinnati, OH). Their YouTube.com video-entries are currently available on the Orchestra's website here. The three finalists will sing "Over the Rainbow" with the Orchestra prior to the start of the The Wizard of Oz concert on Saturday, August 14, 2010 - the competition will also be streamed live on UStream.com. Audience members will select the winner by text message or by online voting. Winners will be announced at intermission of the concert by Turner Classic Movies' own Ben Mankiewicz.

The finalists were selected by a panel of judges including Atlanta Symphony Orchestra President Stanley Romanstein, Staff Conductor & Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Music Director Jere Flint, Principal Flute Christina Smitha, and The Recording Academy® Atlanta Chapter Board Members Brandon Bush and Adam McKnight. Last month, amateur singers, age 18 and older, were invited to compete in the "Atlanta Symphony Songster 2010" vocal competition, offering a chance to sing with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park. The concert will feature the Orchestra performing the music to the classic film, The Wizard of Oz - a theme carried into the vocal competition. Contestants submitted a two-minute video of themselves singing "Over the Rainbow," the famous song performed by Judy Garland in film, The Wizard of Oz.

About the Finalists:

Joseph Brewer recently graduated with a Vocal Performance degree from the Schwob School of Music, at Columbus State University, where he studied voice with Kimberly Cone for five years. Mr. Brewer performs with various companies around the region singing roles including Jack in Into the Woods, Papageno in The Magic Flute, and Rusty Charlie in Guys and Dolls. Other shows include The Music Man, Oklahoma, Bye Bye Birde, and Once Upon a Mattress. When not on stage, Mr. Brewer works at St Luke United Methodist Church in Columbus, Georgia as a staff singer and accompanist, playing piano and organ. He also works with the Springer Opera House in Columbus where he recently finished teaching Musical Theatre at the Springer Summer Academy. Mr. Brewer has said he is thankful to have the opportunity to be reunited with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - many years ago he performed with the Orchestra as a boy soprano. Mr. Brewer continually thanks his parents for supporting his artistic endeavors. Joseph Brewer, 23, currently resides in Columbus, Georgia.

Rebekah Dossou staked her claim on music at an early age. One of seven children, Ms. Dossou chose singing as her means of communication with her family, friends, and the world, taking every opportunity to share her music. Ms. Dossou has sung in church choirs, school choruses, and various ensembles, and was a part of the Young Singers of Callanwolde. As part of the Advanced Women's Ensemble at Brookwood High School, she was a soloist at the Music Educator's National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Now a mother of two, Ms. Dossou works as an office manager at Maggie Lyon Chocolatiers, a gourmet chocolate factory in Norcross, Georgia - she continues to sing part-time at weddings and parties. For Ms. Dossou, to share her joy through song is a dream come true. Rebekah Dossou, 29, currently resides in Lilburn, Georgia.

Christina Lewis received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music in 2001. She taught general music and arts and humanities at Fort Thomas Independent Schools in Fort Thomas, Kentucky from 2001-2008, and currently teaches general music at Uptown Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ms. Lewis enjoys performing in community musical productions and recording with Edwin R Larson's Barbarian Conversion. Christina Lewis, 31, was born in Lima, Ohio, and currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.