Fairfield County high school musicians will get the rare chance to be heard by a distinguished panel of Broadway & Hollywood luminaries and esteemed local educators when Stamford’s Palace Theatre holds auditions for its Emerging Young Artist Scholarship on Saturday, March 8th from 10:30 AM to 3 PM. With students from across the county participating, the auditions will be overseen by three professional adjudicators: David Friedman (conductor of the Disney movies “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin”), Paul McKibbins (composer and Broadway publisher) and John Yoon (award-winning educator from Greenwich High School).
For the fifth consecutive year, Stamford’s Palace Theatre will award its Emerging Young Artist Scholarship Award to a student who has composed his or her own original composition. Participants include students from the following high schools: Academy of Information Technology & Engineering Stamford, Darien High School, Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Greenwich High School, St. Luke’s High School, and Trinity Catholic High School. The recipient of this award will receive a $2,000 scholarship to pursue his or her musical education and will receive the award at the 5th annual Palace Theatre Gala on April 4th.
The press is welcome to attend the auditions. For additional information about The Palace’s Education Programs or information about the scholarship, please contact Carol Bryan, Director of Education at 203-517-3431, by email
cbryan@scalive.org, or visit The Palace website at
www.SCAlive.org and click on the education page.
DAVID FRIEDMAN
With multi-platinum recordings, Broadway shows, Disney Animated Films, television scores and an educational career that spans the nation, David Friedman is truly someone who has made his mark in all areas of show business. After conducting musicals on Broadway, including Grease, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Song and Dance, David went to Hollywood where he conducted and vocal arranged Disney classics including Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. David's songs have been sung and recorded by luminaries such as Diana Ross, Barry Manilow, Allison Krauss, and many others. David also started his own company, MIDDER Music Records.
PAUL MCKIBBINS
Paul McKibbins is a composer, orchestrator, arranger, pianist, record producer, and educator. As a composer and arranger, his musical works have been performed by the New York Philharmonic, the Indianapolis Symphony, The Boston Pops Orchestra, the New York Pops, among many others. In 1991, he was nominated for a Prime-Time EMMY Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction for his work on The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson. Mr. McKibbins has also worked with many of Broadway’s composers including Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne, Leonard Bernstein, John Kander & Fred Ebb, Steven Schwartz, and many more.
JOHN YOON
John Yoon is an award-winning music educator with a proven record of leading a variety of student ensembles to regional and national success. Since 1992, he has worked as Director of Bands at Greenwich High School. Mr. Yoon has played a key role in raising the school’s profile and adding to its rich musical tradition through his knowledge, leadership and total commitment to excellence throughout his music program. Mr. Yoon was named as one of the “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” by the School Band and Orchestra Magazine, recognized as a “Distinguished Teacher” by the Greenwich Public Schools and was awarded a “Citation of Excellence” from the National Band Association.
About the Palace Theatre
The vision of the Palace Theatre is to be the regional arts center for exciting entertainment that enhances and enriches the cultural, educational, economic, and social life of the community. The Palace strives to achieve this vision by demonstrating integrity in all work and relationships, providing service and quality in all activities, fostering and promoting diversity of thought, ideas and culture, providing stewardship for the Stamford Arts community, emphasizing outreach in our community, and offering creativity in all endeavors. Major funding is provided by the Department of Economic & Community Development and the Office of the Arts.
Videos
