American Traditions Competition 2009

The American Traditions Competition is currently accepting submissions from interested singers. This contest will be held in historic Savannah, Georgia, during the 2009 Savannah Music Festival, the largest music festival in the state of Georgia. All songs submitted in a contestant’s repertoire must be composed by American composers. Please contact the Savannah Music Festival for any questions regarding acceptability of chosen titles.



Prizes include:

• 1 Oxnard Gold Medal – $12,000
  
• 1 Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation Silver Medal - $6,000
  
• 1 Stanton Bronze Medal - $3,000
  
• Up to 6 Finalists - $1,200
  
• Up to 12 Semifinalists - $600
  
• Up to 32 Quarterfinalists - $300
  

In planning repertoire, performers must stay strictly within the 10-minute time limit. The entire program is to be determined when your application is submitted. No subsequent changes may be made. Those who move on to the Quarterfinal Round will perform the songs that they submit here for consideration.



The Preliminary round is a maximum 10-minute recorded performance submitted with the application. The selections must be sung by the applicant and include the following:

1. A song from a musical theater work by an American
   composer.
   
2. An American spiritual, song of praise, or hymn of your choice.
   
3. A selection of your choice which represents an American tradition or is composed by an American.
   

Applicants must also pre-select their song choices for the semi-final and final rounds of the competition. Please contact Savannah Music Festival for repertoire requirements: www.savannahmusicfestival.org



After reviewing all submissions, an independent panel of judges will select the singers who will be invited to Savannah to perform live in Competition. Those selected will be notified by a letter postmarked on January 16, 2009.



The American Traditions Competition for singers celebrates the vocal music repertoire of the United States. America’s musical genres represent excellence and artistic integrity, and their Competition seeks to increase performance of these genres. These include art songs, operatic excerpts, blues, jazz, cabaret songs, hymns, spirituals, musical theater, songs from film and television, and popular songs penned by American composers over the last two centuries.