Kennedy Center's AMERICAN VOICES Festival with Sutton Foster, Norm Lewis & More to be Filmed for PBS' GREAT PERFORMANCES

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced that a one-hour documentary about its American Voices festival, a weekend-long celebration of singing curated and hosted by Rene?e Fleming, will be broadcast nationally during a special presentation of THIRTEEN/WNET New York's Great Performances on PBS in 2014. In the documentary, camera crews will follow vocal masters, industry titans, and emerging artists as they gather at the Kennedy Center to celebrate, explore, and debate the legacy, landscape, and future of American singing. A precise airdate will be announced in the coming months.

"The broad spectrum of great artists and industry leaders gathered for this festival gives us an extraordinary chance to expand our understanding of the art and life of the American singer," said Ms. Fleming. Since we first began planning American Voices more than a year ago, I have believed that our work could resonate beyond the three days of this gathering. I'm absolutely thrilled that the PBS broadcast will bring national exposure to this event, sharing our performances, experience, and discoveries with millions of people."

The one-hour special will feature highlights from the festival's unique performances and educational events. During six master sessions, fledgling artists receive personal one-on-one mentoring from iconic singers in a variety of genres: Eric Owens in classical, Dianne Reeves in jazz, Alison Krauss with Dr. Thomas Cleveland in country, Ben Folds in pop, Sutton Foster in musical theater, and Kim Burrell in gospel. Joining these acclaimed artists for the genre- spanning festival centerpiece, the American Voices Concert, are Sara Bareilles, Kurt Elling, Josh Groban, Norm Lewis, and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by NSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke. The festival also includes three expert-led symposia on vocal health, the challenges of the music business, and current trends in vocal training, featuring a wide variety of music-industry insiders.

The American Voices special will air in 2014 and will be produced for the Kennedy Center by RadicalMedia, directed by Paul Bozymowski, and executive produced by Rene?e Fleming, Jon Kamen, Justin Wilkes, and Joe Killian. For Great Performances, Bill O'Donnell is series producer and David Horn is executive producer. More details about the PBS broadcast will be announced at a later date.

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