July welcomes 40 young singers for summer of song

The Songbook Academy set to begin later this month in Carmel

In just a few short weeks, the Great American Songbook Foundation will open the doors of the Palladium to host 40 talented high school singers for the 2024 Songbook Academy. This year’s program will showcase a variety of entertainment industry professionals who will serve as guest mentors, including GRAMMY Award-winning jazz singer-songwriter Nicole Zuraitis, Tony-nominated Broadway star Joshua Henry, and more.

GRAMMY Award-winning jazz singer Nicole Zuraitis will be a guest mentor and performer at this year’s Songbook Academy. (Photo courtesy Great American Songbook Foundation)

There are a multitude of ways to get involved in this year’s program, whether you are local to Carmel or will be joining virtually from afar. You’re invited to share in the magic of all three public events, but there is one performance in particular that you should absolutely add to your calendar.

Keep reading for more information about the annual Songbook Showcase taking place on July 18.

The Songbook Academy is a life-changing week for these students to hone their vocal and performance skills with an emphasis on song interpretation, and one of the events where students have the opportunity to shine as a solo artist is the Songbook Showcase.

On Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m., all 40 of the 2024 finalists will perform one song that they have been developing over the week to the public at the Center for the Performing Arts.

What can you expect from these performances? In years past, students have performed classics like “On the Street Where You Live,” “These Foolish Things,” and “The Impossible Dream.”

To get a glimpse of what this incredible performance will look like, watch last year’s video of returning Songbook Academy student Clara McGough singing “I’ve Got a Crush on You.”

The Songbook Academy is truly a unique experience as there are few programs nationally where you can hear performances from 40 rising stars of the future. Alumni from previous years have gone on to appear on American Idol, Broadway National Tours, Hulu, and more.

This year’s cohort is already dreaming big and aspiring to:

• Pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre and collaborate with other performing artists
• Perform on Broadway
• Be the resident diva at an opera house
• Be a music therapist
• Research Alzheimer’s and combine a love of music and science
• Work in International Relations or Urban Planning
• Be the second woman to ever play Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked on Broadway

To learn more about these exceptional students and enjoy their performances either in person or via livestream, register to attend this year’s Songbook Showcase and experience each student’s hard work unfold before your eyes. Showcase tickets are pay-what-you-can with a $5 minimum for on-site viewers and no minimum for the livestream. Click here to register.

Want to make an impact at the Great American Songbook Foundation?

Through July 31, all gifts will be matched dollar for dollar up to $20,000 by Dr. Larry Weeda Jr. and Sharon Polk. Become a Songbook Foundation supporter and encourage young talent to create their own Songbook stories for years to come.