Searching for a Star? Forget the Heavens; Look to the Eastman Theatre

September 20, 2006

Rochester, NY – The bridge between fantasy stardom and reality just got a whole lot easier thanks to the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s upcoming Search for a Star competition. The Orchestra is looking for eight to 10 of the most talented vocal and instrumental performers in grades 10-12 to live out their dream on the stage at the Eastman Theatre. Winners will appear in concert with the RPO and Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik on March 4, 2007 as part of the RPO’s Casual Sunday Matinee Series, sponsored by the Democrat and Chronicle and Strong Health.

Audition forms are available for downloading through the “Search for a Star” link on the RPO website www.rpo.org; through public and private school music teachers or departments; or at the RPO offices at 108 East Avenue. The competition is open to all students enrolled in grades 10-12 – including homeschoolers – throughout Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Orleans, Livingston, Genesee and Wyoming Counties. Individual performers and ensembles of no more than four musicians are welcome to apply. Audition applications must be postmarked no later than Friday, October 27. However, due to the nature of the competition, a limit of approximately 200 applicants per category will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis to be considered for the preliminary round of auditions. Interested students should send their applications in as soon as possible to:

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
ATTN: Search for a Star Audition
108 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604

Preliminary auditions will take place on Sunday, November 19 at the School of the Arts (45 Prince Street, Rochester), in three different categories:

  • Classical instrumental performance
  • Pops instrumental performance (jazz and blues)
  • Vocal performance (jazz, blues, Broadway, and classical)

Applicants who are accepted to audition will be notified by the RPO by mail within a week of the October 27th application deadline. Preliminary round audition times will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and will take place from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the School of the Arts. Callbacks for the final audition will be the same afternoon, from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Preliminary competition rounds will be judged by a panel of professional musicians, music teachers and adjudicators in each category. Conductor Jeff Tyzik will oversee the final call-back round. Winners will be announced before December 1. Complete instructions can be found on the audition form.

Now in its 84th season, the RPO inspires and enriches the community through the art of music. The Orchestra is passionately dedicated to outstanding musical performance at the highest artistic levels, and has a unique tradition of musical versatility, commitment to music education in the broadest sense and a deep and enduring engagement with the community. The RPO has been honored with the New York State Governor’s Arts Award, and two ASCAP awards for adventurous programming in recent years.

RPO performances are made possible in part with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency; the State of New York; Monroe County; the City of Rochester; and American Airlines, the official airline of the RPO.