Vocalists Will Compete in Michael Feinstein's Vocal Competition in Los Angeles on June 28

High school vocalists will compete on Saturday, June 28 at a regional for the Great American Songbook Vocal Academy & Competition.

"Through this competition, we are reaching a new generation to teach this music and the American history that inspired and influenced these composers," said Michael Feinstein, the Initiative's founder and noted American Songbook ambassador.

The Western regional is at California State University Los Angeles. The public is invited to attend a free performance by the competitors at 7 p.m. at The State Playhouse, 5151 University Dr.

The Western regional competitors are:

Christina Euphrat - San Anselmo, CA (Sir Francis Drake High School)

Zach Gamble - Piedmont, CA (Piedmont High School)

Lana Graves - Palo Alto, CA (Palo Alto High School)

Gautam Nair - San Jose, CA (Lynbrook High School)

Jacqueline Neeley - Danville, CA (Monte Vista High School)

Claire Nordstrom - Pacific Palisades, CA (Harvard-Westlake School)

Jordan Plutzer - San Carlos, CA (St. Francis High School)

Luana Psaros - Goleta, CA (Dos Pueblos High School)

Emily Rice - Grass Valley, CA (Bear River High School)

Angelica Tan - West Covina, CA (Walnut High School)

Produced by the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative, the annual endeavor is the only U.S. competition dedicated solely to the music from Broadway, Hollywood musicals, and the Tin Pan Alley era of the early to mid-twentieth century. Finalists will then convene July 20-25 at the Initiative's headquarters in Carmel, Indiana. Five-time Grammy nominee, Michael Feinstein, and other top music industry professionals will conduct workshops and master classes throughout the week, leading up to the final competition performance on July 25 in the 1,600 seat Palladium concert hall at the Center for the Performing Arts.

At the July 25 finale, one student will be awarded the title of Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador, $3000, and the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to perform with Michael Feinstein. The Youth Ambassador will serve for one year, with opportunities to perform throughout the year. Other awards include Songbook Inspiration Award and Songbook Celebration Award, each receiving $1000 toward continuing music education.

The Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative

Michael Feinstein founded the Great American Songbook Initiative in 2007 in order to preserve, promote, and celebrate the music of the Great American Songbook. The mission of the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook 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

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 celebrating America's popular song and preserving 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 Academy and 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 Palladium Center for the Performing Arts, a $170 million, three-theatre venue in Carmel, Indiana, which opened in January 2011. The Center is home to the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative Archive and gallery. 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 replaced 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.

Watch highlight reel of Vocal Competition:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNI4rB_S6w8

Watch video of 2013 Winner, Julia Goodwin, Perform at the Competition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QJpSe-_EHk&feature=c4-overview&list=UU2-QryLNaFKRO-oiM0ab8dA

Read Photo Flash - BroadwayWorld.com:
/cabaret/article/Photo-Flash-Julia-Goodwin-Wins-2013-Great-American-Songbook-Vocal-Competition-20130729;?%3E

Information: www.FeinsteinInitiative.org

Information: www.TheCenterPresents.org

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