Legendary soul singer Smokey Robinson will serve as the first celebrity guest judge and choose the winner of the Highmark First Night Pittsburgh fifth annual Sing-Off Competition.
“Smokey loves working with kids and giving back to the community,” explained Janis Burley Wilson, vice president for Education & Community Engagement, Director of Jazz Programming. “Our theme this year is Motown because the musical ‘Motown’ will be in town at the same time. Who better to serve as the celebrity guest judge than Smokey? He is the architect of soul music. He will be choosing the winner of the contest before New Year’s Eve.”
Students in grades 6-12 affiliated with a middle or high school in Southwestern Pennsylvania, may submit a video of two songs. In keeping with this year’s theme, one of the songs must be a rendition of a Motown classic.
The student or group of singers may also select a second song of their choice to accompany their submission. Individual students or groups of 20 or less may submit a video no more than 10 minutes long via youtube, upload it and submit it with the Highmark First Night form located on the firstnightpgh.org web site. This year’s deadline for entries was Nov. 21.
“Pick a fun song, something that shows who you are. Have fun with the song,” advised last year’s sing-off competition winner, Penn Hills High School senior, Savannah Wiggins, 17, who beautifully belted out Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)’ for her audition. “My mom saw the competition on-line and she thought it’d be fun for me to do. We were just doing it because we are always trying to find ways for me to get experience singing and performing.”
The winner of this year’s competition will receive the opportunity to perform live as the opening act for the Marquee Performances at the Benedum Center during first night, newspaper and television exposure, $500 in prize money, and four complimentary Pittsburgh First Night 2015 buttons. Five hundred dollars is also awarded to the music department of the winner’s school.
“The music department can use the money to purchase instruments, help with a show they are putting on or use it any way they want,” Wilson said. “We have so many talented kids and you don’t get the opportunity to see them—there may be a school musical but there’s only one lead—this competition gives them the chance to be seen.”
Wiggins said participating in the sing-off competition has given her invaluable experience that she plans on using throughout her musical journey.
“I was on stage in front of thousands of people. I had sung in front of people before but not that many people and it made me feel comfortable. I get so much joy out of singing. It makes me feel good and happy,” said Wiggins who has also won the SHYNE Awards and Pittsburgh’s Gospel Idol.
Pittsburgh’s First Night is an arts-focused, alcohol-free, family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Pittsburgh. It offers over 150 events nearly 50 indoor and outdoor locales within the 14-block Cultural District, attracting nearly 50,000 visitors each year. Events include live music, dance, comedy, visual arts, fireworks and raising of the Future of Pittsburgh Ball.
“This year we’ve kicked it up a lot of notches,” said Wilson. “We have a new logo and we’re working with First Presbyterian Church to have an indoor event and our headlining act is the Swon Brothers that were contestants on ‘The Voice.’ “We’ll also have our First Night Jazz Club and the Pittsburgh Playwright’s Theater will be presenting two Christmas plays.”
Other events during the night include an art installation by visual artist Andrea Polli. The installation is funded by the Heinz Endowments. Wiggins will also be on hand to pass the torch to the new Sing-Off winner.
All of the festivities take place on Wednesday, Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Some of this year’s sponsors include Highmark, Fed Ex Ground, First National Bank and PNC.
(First Night Pittsburgh buttons are $8 in advance and are now available for purchase. They can be purchased at Giant Eagle or through the www.firstnightpgh.org web site. The buttons are $10 at the door. Children five and under are free.)
