Michael Feinstein Songbook Academy Winners to Perform at Kennedy Center, 9/3

Lucas DeBard, this year's Songbook Youth Ambassador, will perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on September 3, as part of their Millennium Stage series. Lucas will be joined by the three most recent Youth Ambassadors - Madelyn Baillio, Julia Goodwin, and Nick Ziobro. The quartet will be accompanied by members of The American Pops Orchestra for the performance that will be streamed live online and become part of a permanent archive of similar performances on the Millennium Stage, which take place daily in Washington.

Lucas was crowned Songbook Youth Ambassador July 25, 2015 after a week-long Songbook Academy attended by 40 high school students from around the country at Carmel's Center for the Performing Arts. The finals were presented to a sold-out Palladium crowd who listened as Lucas sang American standards: "I'm Going to Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" and a medley of "I'll See You in My Dreams" and "I Have Dreamed."

"This incredible experience at the Kennedy Center is actually the first official performance for Lucas and a great opportunity for him," said Michael Feinstein, the creator of the Great American Songbook Foundation and Songbook Academy. "But just as important, this is an opportunity for us to highlight on a national stage the work we are doing with students across the country, teaching an important part of our cultural history - known as the Great American Songbook."

The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center hosts a free performance every day of the year at 6 p.m. as part of its "Performing Arts for Everyone" initiative. Featuring local, national, and international talents, the Millennium Stage has been hailed as "a cultural institution within a cultural institution" by the Washington Post. No tickets are required, though seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The special program will be streamed live online and then remain archived on the Kennedy Center website: For more info: http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/

Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, who serves as President and CEO of the Center for the Performing Arts and the Great American Songbook Foundation, will join the four Songbook Youth Ambassadors on stage and speak about the important work being done in Carmel, IN, including the Songbook Academy and annual inductions into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame. Michael Feinstein will film a special video introduction about the work of the foundation, to be aired at the Kennedy Center.

MORE ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

Lucas DeBard was the winner of this year's Great American Songbook Academy and now serves as the 2015 Songbook Youth Ambassador. Over the next year, Lucas will have multiple opportunities to perform and represent the Songbook Foundation. The 18 year old Indiana native will begin his freshman year at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, where he will study music education and jazz studies.

Madelyn Baillio, from League City, Texas, served as the 2014 Songbook Youth Ambassador. A sophomore at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, she recently starred as Winnifred in Once upon a Mattress at the York Theatre. This past year Madelyn performed to capacity audiences at venues such as Lincoln Center and Birdland Jazz Club with Michael Feinstein.

Julia Goodwin, a high school junior from upstate New York, served as the 2013 Songbook Youth Ambassador. She was featured in Michael Feinstein's New Year's Eve special on PBS, along with Darren Criss, Aaron Tveit, and Christine Ebersole. She also appeared on ABC's "Inside Edition" and NBC's "America's Got Talent." Her current album features Julia performing "unplugged" versions of some of her favorite Great American Songbook standards.

Nick Ziobro served as the 2012 Songbook Youth Ambassador. A native of upstate New York, he is now a sophomore at Rider University. In his role as Youth Ambassador, Nick shared the stage with Michael Feinstein, Marvin Hamlisch, and Barry Manilow, among other notables. His debut album - produced by Michael Feinstein and featuring jazz greats Bucky Pizzarelli, Tedd Firth, Jay Leonhart and more - was released in May 2014.

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

To learn more, visit: www.TheSongbook.org

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