Young people are flocking from all over the state for one thing — to compete in the 17th annual Arizona Young Artists' Competition at the Herberger Theater Center.
Those 15 to 19 year olds are auditioning to compete in three categories: voice, dance and acting. The top four finalists in each category will perform on Saturday before a panel of judges. The winners of each category will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward future arts education.
Founder Frances Cohen said she originally started the event almost 20 years ago because at the time there were no such competitions in Arizona. Although she initially conceived the idea as strictly a modern dance competition, the contest was expanded to include voice and acting.
“At the beginning, it was all quite classical in nature," Cohen said. "But as the years went by, the competition took on the influences of television's competitions and the categories opened up to the more popular styles.”
In addition to the $1,000 scholarships, the Herberger Theater is partnering with Arizona Broadway Theatre to award an additional $1,500 scholarship to one worthy finalist. Cohen said the scholarships are in part to encourage continuing in arts education, as it's often undervalued in American education, and to help alleviate the financial struggle.
“It’s a hard life for anyone to try and stay true to their passion,” she said. “America is not great in its support, but bless this country, we do have the freedom to try.”
Mary Robinson, assistant arts education and outreach director for Herberger Theater, said most high schools don’t even have arts classes anymore.
“A lot of kids come from private studios and community theaters,” Robinson said. “There are a lot of colleges that could give arts scholarships, but the kids don’t know about it because no one in their high schools that can actually tell them.”
Judy Rollings, the head of this year’s competition as well as the arts education and outreach director at the Herberger Theater, said art is just as educationally important as math and science.
“The bottom line is that art teaches,” she said. “It teaches as how to use our imagination and makes us more complete people. It’s not frivolous; it’s not something outside your education. It educates the whole person, emotionally, mentally and intellectually.”
Rollings, who has been involved with Arizona Young Artists Competition for its entire history, said one of the more notable competitors was Scott MacIntyre, a visually impaired vocalist from Scottsdale and winner of the 2004 voice completion. MacIntyre went on to compete in the eighth season of “American Idol” in 2009, where he finished in the top ten.
Four finalists have been chosen for the dance and voice competition, while the finalists for the acting competition will be chosen on March 30.
Each judge will review all 12 finalists during the finals competition on Saturday, April 2 at the Herberger Theater. The audience will also be able to vote for its favorite performers in the “Peoples’ Choice” category.
The event starts 7 p.m, with tickets available through Herberger Theater’s website.
Reach the reporter at idickins@asu.edu or follow @sailormouthed92 on Twitter.
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