Press Release- EGHS student selected as national finalist for the Great American Songbook Academy®

Local high school student selected as national finalist for the Great American Songbook Academy®

Local teen will join vocalists from around the country to participate in week-long Songbook Academy in Carmel, Indiana

East Greenwich, Rhode Island– A local high school vocalist has been named a national finalist for The Songbook Academy. Logan Branch, of East Greenwich High School will join vocalists from across the country for a seven-day Academy on interpreting and performing the music of the Great American Songbook.

The Great American Songbook Foundation, founded by Grammy-nominated vocalist, Michael Feinstein, has selected 40 students from across the country to participate in the 2017 Songbook Academy. High school vocalists representing 19 states will compete for top awards on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Songbook Academy Finals at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Ind.

Students from across the country auditioned to participate in the weeklong Songbook Academy located at the Great American Songbook Foundation’s headquarters in Carmel, IN, July 15-22, 2017. Students will participate in a seven-day academy on interpreting and performing the music of the Great American Songbook. Five-time Grammy nominee Michael Feinstein will be joined by professionals, such as past mentors for the Academy: Tony-nominee Jarrod Spector (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and nine- time Grammy-winner Janis Siegel (The Manhattan Transfer), and will conduct workshops and master classes throughout the week. The final concert performance will be held in the 1,600 seat Palladium Concert Hall at the Center for the Performing Arts. The top 40 finalists were selected by a panel of music educators and industry professionals.  For the full list of finalists, visit www.TheSongbook.org.

Description

Now in its eighth year, the Songbook Academy provides high school singers in grades 9-12 with the life-changing opportunity to work with music industry professionals and educators from top college arts programs to experience firsthand the uniquely American and culturally significant music known as the Great American Songbook. “The Songbook Academy is a transformative experience,” said Michael Feinstein, founder of the Great American Songbook Foundation and Songbook Academy.  “We spend every moment of our time sharing, educating, and developing a love for this music and its history in a way that we feel will change the lives of our students forever,” said Michael Feinstein.

All Songbook Academy participants will be eligible for the following awards:

Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador Award will receive the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to perform with five-time Grammy Award nominated entertainer and founder of the Songbook Foundation, Michael Feinstein. The Youth Ambassador will serve for one year and will have opportunities to perform throughout the year. Past Youth Ambassador performance opportunities have included:

• Multiple appearances with Michael Feinstein – including Jazz at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall
• Great American Songbook Hall of Fame Gala – with Barry Manilow, Liza Minnelli, Johnny Mathis, for example
• National Anthem at NFL game
• Appearance with Pasadena Pops

Songbook Inspiration Award and Songbook Celebration Award winners will each receive a performance opportunity with five-time Grammy Award nominated entertainer and founder of the Songbook Foundation, Michael Feinstein.

The Great American Songbook Foundation

Michael Feinstein founded the Great American Songbook Foundation in 2007 in order to preserve, promote, and perpetuate the music of the Great American Songbook. The mission of the Foundation is to inspire and educate by celebrating the Great American Songbook. The work of the Foundation includes:

• High School Songbook Academy
• Educational programming
• Library, Archives, and Gallery Exhibits
• Great American Songbook Hall of Fame
• Perfect Harmony, a music and memory program with early dementia and their caregivers

To learn more, visit www.TheSongbook.org