Samuel Briggs, Dennis Crookedacre, Majeste Pearson, and Molly Crookedacre are the 2019 Tulsa Sings! finalists. One will be selected as the grand prize winner by a panel of judges after signing on stage with the Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6.
Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College names four finalists in the second annual Tulsa Sings!, a vocal competition embedded with the professional orchestra. This year’s finalists include a father and daughter, an individual active in local theatre, and a former Tulsa Achieves student at TCC.
Samuel Briggs, Dennis Crookedacre, Molly Crookedacre, and Majeste Pearson will compete and be featured in concerts on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6.
“I heard from so many of our audience members that our first Tulsa Sings! was their favorite concert ever,” said Andrés Franco, Signature Symphony at TCC Music Director. “The level of talent is unbelievable, and you—our audience—get to participate by helping us choose an audience favorite. It is definitely one of my favorite concerts of the year because everyone gets to play a part in the process.”
The finalists will join Signature Symphony at TCC on stage for Tulsa Sings! II The Bernstein/Robbins Centennial. The performance features the collaborations of Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins, two of Broadway’s most legendary figures. An audience favorite will be selected by audience votes at each Tulsa Sings! performance and announced at the end of each evening for special recognition. The Tulsa Sings! grand prize winner will be selected by a panel of judges and announced following Saturday’s performance. In addition, the grand prize winner will have the opportunity to be featured in an upcoming Signature Symphony concert during the 2019-2020 season.
The finalists were selected from nearly 40 video auditions and narrowed to four following in-person callbacks with Coulter. KOTV is the media sponsor for the competition.
Samuel is very active in the arts in Tulsa and has worked with Discoveryland, Tulsa Opera, Theatre Pops/American Theatre Company, Tulsa Project Theatre, and Theatre Tulsa. While not formally trained, Dennis is a regular chorus member with The Tulsa Opera, two seasons performing with Signature Chorale, and was a finalist in last year’s Tulsa Sings! competition. His daughter, Molly, is a lyric Soprano who is currently performing on the operatic and concert stage throughout New England but returns often to visit her family and perform in Tulsa. Majeste is a graduate of Jenks High School, attended TCC through Tulsa Achieves and is a graduate of New York Film Academy. She recently performed at the Gathering Place.
“The level of talent from the video submissions and the callbacks was incredibly impressive. The annual Tulsa Sings! competition is a chance to celebrate the gifted singers in this community,” said Coulter.
Since its formation in 1979, the Signature Symphony at TCC has been committed to providing rich musical experiences through live performances, as well as music education and community outreach. Before every Classics concert, our Open Rehearsals allow music lovers of all ages to experience professional orchestra rehearsals and enjoy educational interactions with our conductor, musicians and guest artists. The Open Rehearsals are free on March 14, and April 18.
With five remaining concerts for the 2018-2019 season, Signature Symphony at TCC is offering a Flex Season Package for the combination of the TTCU Pops and Signature Classics and a substantial savings over purchasing individual tickets. Purchase tickets online or call 918-595-7777.
This project is supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.