St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Kicks Off its 5th Year

ST. LOUIS - Jan. 22, 2015 - PRLog -- The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation (http://www.foxpacf.org/) (FPACF) is pleased to announce that the 5^th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition (http://www.foxpacf.org/teen-talent-showcase.aspx) will begin February 28^th and March 1^st with a record 216 performers taking the stage in the preliminary round of competition.   “We are thrilled with the response from the students this year who registered for the competition—they’re anxiously awaiting the opportunity to shine”said Mary Strauss, President of the FPACF Board of Directors

The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation reintroduced the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition in 2011 to showcase the St. Louis region’s most talented teens in the performing arts.  The 2014 winner was “Daring Donesha” Buhr, a Hula Hooper from Fresh Start North Academy and Circus Harmony.  Student acts this year include singers, dancers, musicians, and circus artists competing as soloists or in groups up to six people.

This year’s entries from 73 schools in the bi-state metropolitan area include an even larger number of students in a variety of acts including newcomers in the categories of wire walking and contortionist.  More than 70 students took advantage of two free pre-competition workshops offered by Megan Larche Dominick, casting director for The Muny, and Marsha Parker, Director of Theatre at Lindenwood University-Belleville.  Miano.tv produces videos of the competition process which will be available on our own channel graciously donated by SchoolTube.com.  The past four years of stories currently posted provide viewers a glimpse of what the competition is all about.

Judges for the first two rounds of competition will again include an impressive cross section of professionals from the St. Louis performing arts community.  A complete list of preliminary and semi-final judges is available on the FPACF website.

The two days of preliminary competition, at three separate locations (Lindenwood University-Belleville, St. Louis Community College-Forest Park, University of Missouri – St. Louis) will narrow the field from 148 to 35 acts.  These acts will then compete in the semi-finals on March 28^th at St. Louis Community College-Forest Park where the final 12 acts will be chosen to compete at The Fox on Friday, April 24^th, 2015.  A total of more than $30,000 in scholarships and prizes will be distributed among the top competitors.  Additionally, students are eligible for scholarships from Lindenwood University, Webster University, UMSL and Southeast Missouri State University plus gift certificates and other prizes.  A full list can be found on the FPACF website.

Finalists will also have the opportunity to perform at area events throughout the year.  Finalists from prior years have showcased their talents at Fair St. Louis, The Muny, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, the Sheldon Concert Hall, Six Flags, National Dance Week, Kranzberg Arts Center and TedX St. Louis among others.

Complete guidelines and information about the 5^th Annual 2015 St. Louis Teen Talent Competition can be found on the Foundation’s website as well as on the FPACF Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/notes/fox-performing-arts-charit...).   Important dates for this year’s competition are:

Preliminary Rounds of Competition: February 28- March 1, 2015

Semi-final Round of Competition: March 28, 2015

Final Competition on stage at The Fox: April 24, 2015 (FREE admission)

The community response to this FREE event has been amazing and grown over the past four years with “sold out” crowds at The Fox.  Additionally, each year 120,000 viewers have watched the Nine Network’s hour-long program on the competition.

Highlights of last year’s event and the winning performances from the 2011 through 2014 events can be seen on our SchoolTube and YouTube pages.  We are pleased to announce that The Nine Network will once again broadcast an hour-long program on the 2015 competition.

Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation fosters, promotes, and encourages young people in the St. Louis region to discover and participate in the joy and wonder of live performances.