VSA Florida 2016-2017 Young Soloist State Finalists

Jennifer Gordon from St. Johns County &James Williams from Pasco County

11th Annual VSA Florida Young Soloists Program

Eachyear,aselectnumberofoutstandingyoungmusicianswithdisabilities,ages14-25,fromaroundtheworldreceivetheVSAInternationalYoungSoloistsAward.Theseemergingmusicianswina$2,500prize,professionaldevelopmentexperiences,andtheopportunity toperformattheJohnF.KennedyCenterforthePerformingArtsinWashington,D.C. StartedbyAmbassadorJeanKennedy Smithin1984,theprogram,opentomusiciansofanyinstrumentorgenre,hasprovidedopportunities forhundredsofemergingyoungmusicianswithdisabilities.

VSA FLORIDA AFFILLIATE PROGRAM

VSA Florida is proud to announce their 11th annual statewide program in preparation for the International Young Soloist Program. Two or three finalists are selected by a panel of judges and given the opportunity to perform at a professional venue to be determined each year. These finalists, as well as all other applicants, will represent Florida by having their musical entries sent to Washington, DC to compete in the VSA International Young Soloist Program.

Applicationsforthe2017-2018 VSAFlorida YoungSoloistsCompetitionwillbeacceptedonline.Formoreinformationonthecompetitionandfortheonlineapplication,visitTheapplicationdeadlineisMonday, January 15, 2018at11:59p.m.EST.

ELIGIBILITY

TobeeligibletoentertheVSAFloridaYoungSoloistsCompetitionyoumustmeetallthree ofthefollowingcriteria:

1.Beamusicianwithadisability.

  • AsdefinedbytheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAmendments Act,adisabilityisaphysicalormentalimpairmentthatsubstantially limitsoneormoremajorlifeactivity.Major lifeactivitiesinclude,butarenotlimitedto,caringforoneself,performingmanualtasks,seeing,hearing,eating,sleeping,walking,standing,lifting,bending,speaking,breathing,learning,reading,concentrating,thinking,andcommunicating;additionally majorlifeactivitiesincludetheoperationofamajorbodilyfunction,includingbutnotlimitedto,functionsoftheimmunesystem,normalcellgrowth,digestive,bowel,bladder,neurological,brain,respiratory,circulatory,endocrine,andreproductivefunctions.

2.Be age 14-25.Applicantsmustnotbeyoungerthan14orolderthan25atthetimeoftheapplicationdeadline.Allmembersofanensemblemustmeettheagerequirementinorderto beeligible.

3.HaveneverwontheVSAInternationalYoungSoloistsCompetition.Applicantsarewelcometore-apply untilthey winorageoutofthecompetition.

TheVSAFloridaYoungSoloistsCompetitionisopento:

  • Soloists(instrumentalorvocal)
  • Ensembles*(instrumentalorvocal)oftwo(2)tofive(5)members,suchasrockbands,chamberensembles,andchoralgroups.
  • Musiciansofallgenres,including—butnot limited to--classical,jazz,hip-hop/rap,rock/altrock,pop,indie,bluegrass,folk,country,R&B/blues,Latin,andWorld.
  • Florida Residents:U.S.citizensandlegalresidentsoftheU.S.

*Forensemblestobeeligible,atleastonemusicianmusthaveadisability,and allmembersmustbebetweentheagesof 14-25.

ADDITIONALCOMPETITIONINFORMATION

SelectionProcessandAdjudicationCriteria

A panel of knowledgeable and prominent judges comprised of music professionals and educators will assist with the selection process. Last year judges included three professional musicians that were also professors of music from the School of Music at the University of South Florida and Hillsborough Community College. Panel members will evaluate each audition recording in the areas of technique, tone, rhythm, interpretation and intonation (if applicable).

Award & Performance Opportunities

Recipients of the VSA Florida Young Soloists Award will receive a $50 gift card for individuals, $100 for ensembles and will be featured in a concert performance to bedetermined. VSA Florida will continue to promote winners and offer performance opportunities as they become available.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

  • Completetheonlineapplicationformat
  • NOTE:torequestapplicationmaterialsinadifferentformat,email .
  • Provideanarrativestatement(upto250words)intheprovidedtextboxorasanaudioor videoclip.Thenarrativeshouldincludebiographicalinformation(i.e.educationalbackground,pastsoloorensembleexperience,musicalgoals)andthereasonsyoufeelyouoryour ensembleshouldbeselectedasaVSAInternationalYoungSoloistwinner.
  • Attachmediafilesofthree(3)musicalselections(audioorvideo).

Pleasereadthefollowingmediafilesubmissionguidelinescarefully:

  • NOTE:Ifyouhavedifficultyuploadingyourmediafiles,email.
  • Whereindicatedontheapplicationform,pleaselistthetitleandcomposerofeach submission.
  • Pleasenotethatwhilethequalityofyourmediasubmissionsshouldbehigh,itisnotnecessarytohaveyouraudioorvideoprofessionally recorded.Themusic and artistryshould be easily heard on your recording.
  • Eachuploadedfileshouldbearecordingofonepieceonly (multiplemovementsfora piecearefine).
  • Eachrecordingshouldbeless than 10 minutes long.
  • PleaseuploadyourmostproficientpieceintoSelection#1.
  • Selectedpiecesshouldrepresentyourcurrentmusicianshipandrepertoire.Therefore recordingsshouldberelatively recent (nomorethan1-2yearsold).
  • Keepin mind, ifchosen on the international level,winnerswillnotbepermittedtouserecordedmusicintheirperformance.
  • Applicantsmayonlyapply ononeinstrument.Evenifyouaretalentedonmultiple instruments,pleasepicktheoneonwhichyoufeelyouaremostproficientandsendus recordingsshowcasingthatinstrumentonly.
  • Theapplicationacceptsfilesinthefollowingformats:Audio(MP3,MP4) and Video(WMV)
  • Videofilesaresuggested,butnotrequired.
  • ApplicationmaterialsshouldbesubmittednolaterthanJanuary 15, 2018at11:59PM EST