Vocal Competition
After a long winter of freezing temperatures and snowy days, the Academy’s Music Department welcomed spring with its annual Vocal Festival and Competition. Students gathered in the Bowld Music Center on Sunday, Apr. 22 to perform in front of three guest judges and an attentive and eager audience.
According to event organizer and Music Instructor Kristofer Johnson, the PEA Vocal Festival and Competition was once part of the winter term Concerto Competition, which also includes instrumental performances by students. Johnson explained, however, that several years ago, “it was decided that the Vocal Competition would have better participation if it was its own event.”
This decision to create a separate event has been beneficial, as the number of participants continues to rise each year. Referring to the number of participants this year, Johnson added, “I think thirty-two is as many students as we’ve had participate in my five years here.”
While both the Concerto Competition and the Vocal Competition have a competitive component, the Vocal Competition also includes a non-competitive division for participants who want to experience a live performance without additional pressure. Of the 32 students participating, 20 did not compete, but still performed and received written feedback from the three judges. Competing students likewise received feedback, with the winner going on to perform in the choral concert at the end of spring term.
Among the students in the competing division were twelve uppers and seniors, each having prepared two contrasting selections for the judges. Upper Tommy Kim, who has only been studying solo singing for a year, was eager to perform in his first vocal competition. “I’m mostly excited for the competition,” he said before the event. “And a little anxious because I know that all [of the other participants are] talented.”
Lower Kevin Xu shared Kim’s sentiments, saying, “I have performed a lot in choirs and a cappella groups, but never as a soloist.”
The three-judge panel was composed of accomplished musicians and vocalists. “All are working at the college or university level in singing and vocal music,” Johnson said.
Competition was tight, and all participants delivered praiseworthy performances. Towards the event’s conclusion, a hushed anticipation fell over the audience as the judges conferred. Judge Michael Meraw began by congratulating all vocalists for their efforts before naming senior Nate Sassoon as the winner and senior Tess Aalto as an honorable mention. Sassoon will perform again at a later spring choral concert.
As Johnson had anticipated, the entire event provided “a wonderful couple of hours of hearing vocal music” for the audience. The performers were not only able to master their music technically, he said, but also expressively and through their own interpretations.
Reflecting on the experience, participant upper Dylan Yin noted that he was pleasantly surprised with the event. “I expected that the competition would be more casual,” Yin said. “I was really impressed by the mastery and professionalism that everyone demonstrated.”
Participation and the courage to perform are keys to the Vocal Competition. “I think what my colleagues and I are looking for the most is participation,” said Johnson. “What we really want to do is to make an opportunity for everyone who studies singing to feel like they’re going to push themselves a little bit, to have an opportunity to sort of hone that craft.”
The Vocal Competition will continue into next school year, preserving its special value as a one-of-a-kind opportunity for student vocalists. “It’s a lovely afternoon event, I’d have to say,” Johnson said. “There’s no other time in the year when we’ll do a big event that’s entirely about solo vocal music.”