Singing group seeks scholarship candidates
MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~ 9/8/2010

The Upscale Singers, a group based in the North Valley, are looking to share their love of singing by encouraging the area’s youth to pursue their talents by offering a series of scholarships.
For the fourth straight year the group is offering vocal music scholarships to junior high and high school students from the Cave Creek and Anthem/New River school districts.
“We’re thrilled to support young students developing their singing skills,” Mary Beth Coonan, Upscale Singers member. “There is all sorts of research supporting the benefits of studying music and how it helps students in other parts of their academics. It’s a good way to develop confidence and develop leadership skills. And it’s just fun for them to be able to share their talents.”
Auditions will take place from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 at Desert Foothills Lutheran Church, located at 29305 N. Scottsdale Road. Auditions, which can be set by calling 480-575-0188 must be scheduled by Friday.
Students auditioning will sing from memory one or two songs of their choice with piano or CD/IPOD accompaniment. An accompanist and CD/IPOD player will be provided. Selections don’t need to be classical in nature, but should clearly show the singer’s range and voice quality.
This year $2,000 will be awarded to five winners in the high school division, with $600 to first place, down to $200 for fifth place. In the junior high division $1,500 will be awarded to five winners with $500 going to first place, down to $100 for fifth place.
Each teen that auditions will receive written feedback. Microphones are not allowed.
Students need not be currently studying with a private instructor, but should have a desire to do so. Winners will be notified by e-mail and/or mail. The scholarships will go straight to the private vocal performance instructor of the winning student’s choice.
The first place winners will also be featured in the annual Holiday Concert in December.
“All of our concerts are multi-generational events,” she said. “Our holiday show always is such a heart rendering moment. Every one of our concert goers walks away with a treasured memory.”
Beyond their continued efforts with individual students looking to improve their singing skills the Upscale Singers have added an additional cause this year.
“A couple of our board members have children that work as school teachers,” Coonan said. “We know the work that teachers do and that they constantly have to dig into their own pockets to supplement their limited budgets. Music seems to always be on the chopping block when funds get tight.”
As a tribute to North Valley music teachers and their programs Upscale Singers has added a new program to their efforts, offering grants of up to $400 to high school and junior high school vocal teachers in the Cave Creek School District and the Anthem/New River areas.
The first grant recipient was Karen Weaver from Anthem School where 300 students in grades 6 – 8 of that group 120 are in choir and more than a 100 are in band.
Weaver said the money would go to purchase sheet music for the school’s upcoming school year, which will include six concerts.
Coonan said Upscale Singers is hoping the grant will be an annual award.
“We’re proud of our community outreach efforts,” she said. “It’s a credit to the community as well. It’s wonderful that we have supporters that come to our shows and tell us they that we’re great, but we’re proud that they get behind us to do these charitable projects as well.”
The Upscale Singers are a 501©-3 non-profit organization.
Criteria for grant requests, plus the application form, are available at upscalesingers.com, or by calling 480-575-0188.