The American Traditions Vocal Competition (ATC) returns for its highly anticipated 26th anniversary season Feb. 18-22, 2019. With an outstanding line up of 28 contestants, three new judges and one new pianist, this year's performances are sure to entertain audiences of all ages.
This year's judges include award-winning jazz musician Melba Joyce, American composer, conductor and music administrator Michael Ching, and Tony award-nominee and Broadway performer Phillip Boykin. Crowd pleasing pianists return, with David Shenton celebrating nine years of incredible pianistic collaboration with the competition and Wilson Southerland joining for his fifth year. These veteran pianists will be joined by Andrew Sotomayor, who will accompany contestants during this competition for the first time.
Rebecca Odorisio will join this year's competition as emcee. Odorisio moved to New York at the age of eighteen to pursue her dramatic education. Her B.F.A. studies were completed at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She enjoys a wide spectrum of dramatic work, from Shakespeare to Sondheim to Strayhorn. A facile and versatile performer, Rebecca places equal emphasis on musical, comedic, and dramatic pursuits. She is the 2015 All-Star Champion of New York's Cabaret Showdown, a founding member of the theatre company, Island Shakespeare, and a recent member of America's Sweethearts, an "Andrews' sisters" - style women's harmony group, performing American songbook and Americana music from wartimes. Rebecca is the 2015 ATC Silver Medalist, the 2015 and 2016 Ben Tucker Jazz Award winner and the 2016 Johnny Mercer Award winner.
The ATC celebrates and preserves all styles of classic American music. The organization promotes these songs by producing an annual vocal competition in Savannah, Georgia, that awards $35,000 in cash prizes. The ATC is committed to serving the greater Savannah community. The organization provides musical education, exposure and performances for Savannah locals of all ages. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts institution was born of the desire to foster and preserve traditions of musical expression, which have been significant in the culture of the United States, by celebrating the repertoire that represents both the art and the popular cultures of our country.
The 2019 competition kicks off with a Judge's Concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18 at Skidway Island United Methodist Church (UMC), 54 Diamond Causeway, on Skidaway Island. Guests will enjoy an evening of music with performances by all three ATC judges. Tickets to this concert cost $30 each.
At 4 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 and Wednesday, Feb. 20, the 28 quarterfinalists will perform three diverse, American songs each at Skidaway Island UMC in the hopes of advancing to the semifinals. The first half of contestants competes on Tuesday, and the remaining contestants will put it all on the line Wednesday. Day passes for the quarterfinals cost $25 each.