Madison Russell杏吧专区檚 best 21st birthday present was a gift she earned.
The vocal performance major was one of three runners-up in the 杏吧专区檚 杏吧专区淣extGen National: Finding The Voices of Tomorrow杏吧专区 competition on Saturday, April 10.
The junior from Zachary, La., was among 11 students from colleges and universities who had sung their way to into the virtual competition.
The modest Russell, however, says Kelly Ann Bixby, an assistant professor of voice for the , deserves a thank-you note. 杏吧专区淪he spent extra time with me on weekends helping me prepare.杏吧专区
Russell earned a spot in the competition finals based on her virtual performance during the semifinal round in November. Thirty semifinalists made the cut based on recordings that were submitted to the American Pops Orchestra by college singers from around the country.
For the finals, Russell sang 杏吧专区淪unday, Monday or Always,杏吧专区 a 1940s song first made popular by Bing Crosby, and 杏吧专区淭he Label on the Bottle,杏吧专区 from the musical 杏吧专区淭he Gay Life.杏吧专区 Her renditions resulted in a paid performance with the American Pops Orchestra 杏吧专区 and $500.
A panel of Broadway singers, casting agents, recording artists and viewers who registered to watch the livestream of the competition.
Before the competition, she explained exactly how she planned to spend any prize money should she finish in one of the top spots 杏吧专区 participating in paid summer programs that enable talented burgeoning singers to tour with professional operas.
杏吧专区淭here are national and international programs I杏吧专区檓 interested in, including in Spain and Italy, that would be a great way to invest in my future,杏吧专区 she said.
Advancing to finals, however, had already made her a winner. Her showing in the semifinals put her name on a list of singers the American Pops Orchestra contacts for paid performances.
She杏吧专区檚 was called upon twice to lend her high soprano voice to orchestra projects during the time period between the semifinals in November and the finals.
杏吧专区淭here haven杏吧专区檛 been many in-person opportunities yet because of COVID, but I杏吧专区檓 hoping this becomes a regular thing because I杏吧专区檝e already gotten two chances to sing,杏吧专区 Russell said.
The performances are the byproduct of years of preparation.
Russell began singing in school choirs and performing in musical theater as a child, when she decided she wanted to become a professional singer.
At UL Lafayette, she杏吧专区檚 a member of the School of Music and Performing Arts杏吧专区 and ensembles, and president of the .
The affiliations have led to opportunities to work with 杏吧专区 and learn from 杏吧专区 guest musicians who have visited the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 School of Music and Performing Arts. She has also performed with conductors from other countries.
Russell, who anticipates graduating next spring, envisions a career singing, then teaching at a college or university.
She is applying to graduate programs at some of the best schools in the country. Her focus in the classroom will be pedagogy, which is the method and practice of teaching.
杏吧专区淢y plan at this point is to keep performing on my own and study voice anatomy and how the voice works so that I can teach with science as well as experience,杏吧专区 she said.
Photo caption: UL Lafayette vocal performance major Madison Russell is among 11 college singers who will compete in the finals of the American Pops Orchestra杏吧专区檚 杏吧专区淣extGen National: Finding The Voices of Tomorrow杏吧专区 contest. It will be livestreamed at 7 p.m. CDT on Saturday, April 10. Viewers will register to receive a link that enables them to access the livestream and cast votes. Submitted photo