October 29, 2008
For Immediate Release
For more information: Nancy Cannon, (801) 863-8844
University Marketing & Communications: Erin Spurgeon, (801) 863-6807
Written by: Britnee Nguyen, (801) 863-8504
Utah-based music composer and performer, Kurt Bestor, will be hosting one of five “Bestor’s Best Singer Search” auditions at Utah Valley University on Oct. 31, noon to 3 p.m. in the Sorensen Student Center’s Center Stage.
Bestor chose UVU as one of the venues because of the energy associated with a college campus. “Last year one of our singer search events was at Utah State and the atmosphere was electric and zany—lots of energy,” Bestor said.
Bestor has been on campus in the past as UVU hosted his annual “A Celebration of Life: A Kurt Bestor Christmas Concert” for the past three years, and will host him again at the McKay Events Center on Dec. 8. The winner of his Best Singer Search will perform at the Christmas concert.
“There is the possibility that the singer at the Christmas concert could be a student from UVU,” said Nancy Cannon, the event sponsor at UVU. “How exciting is that?”
Last year’s singer search was a hit in Utah Valley. “We had more than 100 singers tryout, ranging in age from six to 69,” said Kevin Raleigh, Bestor’s Los Angeles-based agent. “With the growing popularity of the singer search, we expect even more this year.”
Auditions are held on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those auditioning are given a microphone and have up to 60 seconds to sing a song of their choice a cappella. Bestor and his guest judges will be listening to voice quality, range and dynamics as well as watching for stage presence.
“There’s a lot of talent in Utah Valley,” Bestor said. “I’m anxious to hear them.”
In addition to the auditions at UVU, the singer search will be held in Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake City and St. George. Singers are only allowed to audition in one city. After the five audition events are held, Bestor will choose three finalists. On Nov. 25, the finalists will sing live on KSL TV’s Studio 5 between 11 a.m. and noon. Bestor will then announce the winner live on TV.
The winner receives an arrangement by Bestor, a recording session with Bestor to record the arrangement, a guest singer spot at Bestor’s 20th annual Christmas concert, and a trip to Los Angeles with Bestor to meet recording executives. For more information on Bestor’s Best Singer Search, go to www.kurtbestor.com.
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College Marketing Contact:
Erin Spurgeon
(801) 863-6807