Great American Songbook Competition Prep

An exciting email just came, with more information about the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Competition Finals. In addition to the 10 finalists from around the country each performing two songs, we get to sing a number with Michael Feinstein. AND... Michael Feinstein, Sylvia McNair and Sandy Patti (all who are judges and clinicians throughout the week) will be performing in the final concert, too. I'm so excited! Friends and family have already been asking about details, and I think anyone in the Indianapolis area should come check it out!

For more information on the finals, and to purchase tickets online, go to:
http://www.thecenterfortheperformingarts.org/tickets/production.aspx?PID=1668 (Price: $25-$50) 

Meanwhile, I have to decide what two songs I am going to perform. I love the songs I performed for regionals ("Beyond the Sea" and "Orange Colored Sky"), but there are so many great songs that I want to sing. Right now, I'm in the process of trying to decide which two to select this time. I think I'll keep one from before, but am also looking for something a little more lyrical. It isn't as easy as you might think to choose from all the amazing material in this genre.

With this goal in mind, I have been constantly on Spotify. I love searching and listening to different renditions of the same song. I searched "My Funny Valentine" by Rodgers and Hart and came up with about 100 different tracks featuring artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, Micheal Bublé, Miles Davis, Gerry Muligan, Barbra Streisand, Kristin Chenoweth and Joshua Bell, and even Matt Damon. 

Two songs I am considering are "Do I Love You?" by Cole Porter and "The Nearness of You" by Hoagy Carmichael. These both are written by fellow Hoosiers (Indiana natives.) Another possibility is "All the Things You Are" by Jerome Kern. So much music... so little time!

One fun thing I learned about on the Michael Feinstein PBS special that I thought would be fun to share, are these versions of "For Once in My Life". They are of Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder, each separately, then together. The different adaptations are 

There are so many amazing things you can do with music. I am so passionate about it and look forward to a lifetime of exploring and creating.  


"The only thing better than singing is more singing" -Ella Fitzgerald