The 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Madison Russell is among 30 college singers chosen to compete in the American Pops Orchestra小蝌蚪APP檚 小蝌蚪APP淣extGen: The Voices of Tomorrow小蝌蚪APP contest.
The virtual event will be livestreamed at 7 p.m. CST on Saturday, Nov. 21. Performances will be judged by a panel of Broadway singers, recording artists and contest viewers who cast votes.
Russell is a junior from Zachary, La., majoring in vocal performance. She earned a spot in the semifinal round of the competition by recording a video that she sent to the American Pops Orchestra last month.
Russell said she is relishing the opportunity to compete against students from some of the best music programs in the country, including the Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and New England Conservatory of Music.
小蝌蚪APP淚f I win it would give me a huge opportunity. I小蝌蚪APP檇 get to perform in Washington D.C., with a really well-known orchestra.小蝌蚪APP
Ten finalists will be chosen as part of the competition. The finalists are tentatively scheduled to perform with the American Pops Orchestra sometime this spring, depending on COVID-19 considerations. An overall winner, a male runner-up, and a female runner-up will earn scholarships and a paid performance with the orchestra.
It小蝌蚪APP檚 the sort of role Russell has been preparing for since kindergarten. That小蝌蚪APP檚 when she joined her church choir 小蝌蚪APP and found an outlet for singing that began as a toddler. 小蝌蚪APP淢y mom always jokes that I could sing before I could talk. She would hear me babbling musically.小蝌蚪APP
As she grew up, Russell sang in school choirs, performed in musical theater shows, and attended music conferences. She didn小蝌蚪APP檛 start thinking about making singing a career, however, until she was in high school.
小蝌蚪APP淚 never really knew music was the path I was going to take until I got older. I kept auditioning for things and getting more and more opportunities. That made me realize music might be something I could actually pursue,小蝌蚪APP Russell said.
She小蝌蚪APP檚 continued honing her craft at UL Lafayette. Russell is a member of the School of Music and Performing Arts小蝌蚪APP , , and . She is president of all three ensembles.
The affiliations have provided opportunities to work with 小蝌蚪APP and learn from 小蝌蚪APP guest musicians who have visited the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 . Russell has also performed with conductors from other countries when the UL Lafayette Chamber Singers perform with the Acadia Symphony Orchestra.
小蝌蚪APP淚 can小蝌蚪APP檛 even count the number of cool opportunities we get to work with musicians from around the world. It小蝌蚪APP檚 been really great,小蝌蚪APP Russell said.
She also values 小蝌蚪APP and plans to use 小蝌蚪APP what she小蝌蚪APP檚 picking up in the classroom. She小蝌蚪APP檚 learned how to write music, for example, and is studying pedagogy, which is the method and practice of teaching.
Russell plans to earn graduate and doctoral degrees, and eventually teach at a college or university. But first she has other ideas.
小蝌蚪APP淚 want to stick with performance while my voice is still young and healthy. Once I graduate, I小蝌蚪APP檓 going to move to New York to start gigging,小蝌蚪APP she said.
Learn more about the American Pops Orchestra小蝌蚪APP檚 competition and how to to watch.
Photo caption: UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Madison Russell is among 30 college singers chosen to compete in the American Pops Orchestra小蝌蚪APP檚 小蝌蚪APP淣extGen: The Voices of Tomorrow小蝌蚪APP contest. It will be held at 7 p.m. CST on Saturday, Nov. 21. Submitted photo