Meagan Martin secures the first place win at the Hershey Felder Competition for Classical Performers
Meagan Martin, a doctoral student in vocal performance at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music, has emerged victorious in the Hershey Felder Competition for Classical Musicians. The competition, funded by award-winning actor, playwright, director, and producer Hershey Felder, took place at the Popper Theater last week.
Six students from the school participated in the competition: Irina Bazik (pianist), Veola Sun (pianist), Joyce Kwak (violinist), Euan Shields (cellist), Meagan Martin (mezzo-soprano), and Gal Kohav (mezzo-soprano). Due to a tie among the five other competitors, Felder increased his gift to allow each competitor to receive a share of the cash award.
Martin, who had previously shied away from talking to an audience in concert and recital settings, found it vulnerable but amazing to establish a connection with the audience before singing. Her winning performances included "Una voce poco fa" from Rossini's The Barber of Seville and "The Boy From..." by Mary Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim.
Felder expressed great satisfaction in knowing that the competition and award motivated the students to explore their individuality as performers. During the masterclass, he emphasized the importance of interacting with the audience in a personal and personable way. Felder looks forward to next year's competition and working with new classical music students at UCLA.
The students built on their musical talent and training as a result of the competition and masterclass. Felder noted their efforts to build on their musical talent and training, and their determination to engage and build an audience. The competition encouraged classical musicians to perform at the highest level and motivated the students to determine how to engage and build an audience.
While specific details about the competition's objectives, format, or association with UCLA are not available, the Hershey Felder Competition is a relatively new classical music competition inspired by Felder's artistic work. It typically aims to showcase young classical musicians who combine musical skill with theatrical and narrative elements. For the latest accurate and detailed information on this competition, particularly regarding upcoming editions at UCLA, it is recommended to consult official UCLA music department announcements, the competition’s official website, or Hershey Felder’s official channels.
In light of the Hershey Felder Competition, Meagan Martin, a doctoral student in vocal performance at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music, not only demonstrated her exceptional talent in classical music but also recognized the significance of entertainment, as she found connecting with the audience before singing to be vulnerable yet amazing. To further her education-and-self-development, Martin is determined to engage and build an audience, emulating the theatrical and narrative elements advocated by the competition.
