2016 Songbook Academy National Finalists Announced

The Great American Songbook Foundation, founded by Grammy-nominated vocalist, Michael Feinstein, has selected 40 students from across the country to participate in the 2016 Songbook Academy. High school vocalists representing 17 states will compete for top awards on Saturday, July 23 at the Songbook Academy final concert at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Tickets for this popular event go on sale Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at www.TheCenterPresents.org.

Now in its seventh 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. This year, five-time Grammy nominee Michael Feinstein is joined by Tony-nominee Jarrod Spector and nine-time Grammy-winner Janis Siegel as Mentors for the Academy.

"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 two-time Emmy and 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

· Kennedy Center

· Great American Songbook Hall of Fame Gala - with Barry Manilow, Liza Minnelli, Johnny Mathis, Jimmy Webb, 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 two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award nominated entertainer and founder of the Songbook Foundation, Michael Feinstein.

The 2016 Finalists are:

Jennifer Barnett, East Lansing, MI, Haslett High School

Helena Beltrao, Bradenton, FL, The Out-of-Door Academy

Tracey Beresford, Dubuque, IA, Hempstead High school

Josephine Bianco, Staten Island, NY, Talent Unlimited High School for the Performing Arts

Emma Browning, Fort Wayne, IN, Norwell High School

Melissa Campbell, Wyoming, OH, Wyoming High School

Liza Christie, Carmel, IN, Carmel High School

Ashlyn Combs, Lexington, SC, Home School

Julia Cooper, Poland, OH, Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School

Alexander Eisenberg, Loch Arbour, NJ, The Academy of Allied Health and Science

Emily Estep, Fresno, CA, University High School

Kaitlin Folsom, Bradenton, FL, State College of Florida Collegiate School

Caleb Freeman, Webb City, MO, Webb City High School

Viktor Freesmeier, St. Louis, MO, Grand Center Arts Academy

Austin Gladstone, Delray Beach, FL, American Heritage Boca Delray

Sarah-V Harnden, Redondo Beach, CA, Amazing Grace Academy

Matt Hoffman, Stony Brook, NY, Ward Melville High School

Lana Kanen, Santa Barbara, CA, San Marcos High School

Will Koski, Bloomington, IL, Normal Community High School

Caroline Lacy, Darien, CT, Darien High School

Madison Lay, Chesterfield , MO, Visitation Academy

Dominic Lipari, Plainfield, IL, Plainfield North

Kelly Maur, El Dorado Hills, CA, Oak Ridge High School

Casey McCreary, La Canada, CA, St. Francis High School

Andrew McGowan, Webb City, MO, Webb City High School

Alec Melosini, Trabuco Canyon, CA, Santa Margarita Catholic High School

Kelly Moran, Encino, CA, The Buckley School

Samual Mulligan, Mt. Zion, IL, Mt. Zion High School

Isabel Robin, Bayside, NY , Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts

Elizabeth Ross, Shreveport, LA, Caddo Parish Magnet High School

Kate Semmens, Brooklyn, NY, LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and Performing Arts

Emma Shine, New Hope, MN, Robbinsdale Cooper High School

Kira Siepman, Plainfield, IN, Plainfield High School

Gigi Sierra, Long Beach, CA, Robert A. Millikan High School

Tessa Southwell, Rolling Hills Estates, CA, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

Brighton Thomas , Burbank, CA, John Burroughs High School

Audrey Trullinger, Amble , PA, Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Jessica Vanek, Henderson, NV, Las Vegas Academy of the Arts

Nina White, Grosse Pointe Park, MI, Grosse Pointe South High School

Cole Winston, Hartland, WI, Arrowhead High School

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