http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2010/10/thelonious-monk-vocal-competition-brings-semi-finalists-to-nmai/ A new Smithsonian blog covering scenes and sightings from the Smithsonian museums and beyond. Mon, 20 May 2013 19:14:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2010/10/thelonious-monk-vocal-competition-brings-semi-finalists-to-nmai/comment-page-1/#comment-4798 Rick Pearson Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:09:28 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/?p=14547#comment-4798 I watched the semifinals, not the finals, and all three finalists were outstanding, very hard to distinguish a winner. But my favorite of all was Sarah Marie Young, who didn't make it to the finals, but who I thought stood out even from the 3 finalists. (Just for the record, as I was keeping score during the semis, I had Young, Aimee, Salvant and Wade as the top 4, with Young a clear first and the other three tied for 2nd.) I thought Young's performance and command of the stage, and her vocal and emotional range, were breathtaking, and for no rational reason (not even connected to the lyrics of the song she was singing) tears started to come down my cheeks about 30 seconds into her first song! But I can't begrudge anything to the 3 finalists -- I can see all 4 having strong professional careers with passionate followers. I watched the semifinals, not the finals, and all three finalists were outstanding, very hard to distinguish a winner. But my favorite of all was Sarah Marie Young, who didn’t make it to the finals, but who I thought stood out even from the 3 finalists. (Just for the record, as I was keeping score during the semis, I had Young, Aimee, Salvant and Wade as the top 4, with Young a clear first and the other three tied for 2nd.) I thought Young’s performance and command of the stage, and her vocal and emotional range, were breathtaking, and for no rational reason (not even connected to the lyrics of the song she was singing) tears started to come down my cheeks about 30 seconds into her first song! But I can’t begrudge anything to the 3 finalists — I can see all 4 having strong professional careers with passionate followers.

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