To apply, you send in two songs from the Great American Songbook- pretty much all pre-1965 MT songs can be used. They pick 40 kids from around the country. Almost all of the 40 kids that are selected are musical theatre geeks. So, they all really get along and are supportive of each other, even though it is a competition. During the week, they have wonderful workshops with great instructors and there are always a few Broadway actors. My daughter’s first year, Laura Osnes came to give them a workshop. This year, it was Jarod Spector and also Janis Siegel from The Manhattan Transfer. My daughter got to do an improve call and response duet scat with her- cool!
The older kids that my daughter has met there are now all in college MT programs so she knows people at PACE, CMU, Rider, Montclair, UM, Texas, Marymount…etc. And, the winner of the Songbook Academy from three years ago, Maddie Ballio, was the girl selected to be Tracey in Hairspray Live. Go Maddie!!
To top it all off, Michael Feinstein who started the program works with the kids and he is the absolute best. He is a consummate performer and they learn so much from him. When he was performing in our area last year, the Songbook Academy contacted my daughter to ask if she would like to perform a song in one of his shows. She did and it was the thrill of her life (so far) and it looks great on her college resume…just saying. Michael tries to have the songbook kids perform with him as much as he can. How awesome is that? Plus, the kids learn all about the songs from the Great American Songbook and how to interpret and perform them. This is the purpose of the whole thing; to keep these songs going with the younger generation. My daughter was a top 10 finalist this summer. She got to perform her two songs in the beautiful concert hall in Carmel in front of a sold out audience. Being a finalist, she can’t go again, but she wishes that she could go for a third time. THIS PROGRAM IS FANTASTIC!
If they do it in the symphony hall in Carmel- it is a crazily impressive building for a suburban community. Makes me smile every time I see it (H’s entire family lives in area)
@toowonderful- the final show is at the Palladium. They hold the workshops there during the week and the final contest/concert is there. It is impressive for such a small community.
As a Carmel resident don’t get me started on the financing of the Palladium. But fun fact here - when my D was in HS her show choir was the first group to ever sing in the Palladium. They did the first sound check when they were adjusting the acoustics. It is a very impressive venue.
Just one more shout out for the songbook academy. My son has done it for the last 2 years also. It’s an incredible week and he has contacts all over. Seems like every school he auditions to he knows someone already based on all the kids he met that week!
First time poster here. I have 2 Musical theatre performers at home. DS (16) sophomore and DD (14) freshman. DS auditioned for The Songbook Academy for their summer workshop. Anyone whose child has auditioned have any input on how/when they were notified and the type of feedback they received. Curious how competitive it is. Trying to make plans for summer, but this week is up in the air. Thanks in advance for sharing your expertise!
Hi @Kristiern1 D went to the Songbook Academy last year and it was AMAZING! They will notify you by email sometime in May. Soon after that, they will mail a packet (whether accepted or not) that has scoring sheets from the adjudicators. It is extremely competitive! These are some of the most talented singers across the country! Lots of different types of singers…not all MT kids since the music lends itself to cabaret and jazz as well.
Our D participated in Songbook last year. It was an incredible experience! Butler was a great place for classes and watching our D sing her songs in the Palladium in front of a sold-out house was amazing!
Based on these posts, I would assume our D is friends with your sons and daughters as well. It’s a lovely, supportive program and they all come out friends. And, like all things performing arts, it gets more and more competitive every year! Songbook recently reported a record number of applicants via their FB page.
“The Man that Got Away” & “I Get A Kick Out of You”'s mom here Hi Songbook moms! Yes, the Songbook Academy, even though it is not an MT summer program, was great experience for “acting the song”. The people that run it are incredible. My D choose doing the Songbook Academy (it was her second year participating) instead of doing a musical with her friends this past summer. I think that says a lot. Plus, she has friends from last year’s SA that were older than her and now go to all the MT schools. She’s gotten the scoop on what the schools are really like from them.
Anxiously awaiting news on this summer’s Songbook Academy. You would think after all these years of waiting on cast lists, I would have an easier time with the waiting game. Ugh!
