Classical musician, Meagan Martin, triumphs as the winner at the Hershey Felder Competition
Meagan Martin, a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) student specialising in vocal performance at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, has recently won the top prize in the Hershey Felder Competition for Classical Musicians.
The competition, held at the Popper Theater last week, was funded by Hershey Felder, an award-winning actor, playwright, director, and producer known for his one-person shows centred on classical composers. Despite limited information available about the competition, it is clear that it aims to encourage classical musicians to perform at the highest level.
Six students from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music competed in the competition: Irina Bazik (pianist), Veola Sun (pianist), Joyce Kwak (violinist), Euan Shields (cellist), Meagan Martin (mezzo-soprano), and Gal Kohav (mezzo-soprano).
In the competition, Martin focused on the exchange of energy with the audience and the comedy within the music, which made a huge difference in her performance. She also found talking to the audience before singing a note to be an amazing way to establish a connection.
Felder, who coached voice, string, and piano students during a public masterclass on day one, expressed great satisfaction in knowing that the competition and award had motivated the students to explore their individuality as performers. He challenged them to "make every note count."
Due to a tie between the other five competitors, Felder increased his gift to award each competitor with a share of the cash award. He also expressed pride in all six students and their improvement following the masterclass.
Martin, who had previously shied away from talking to an audience in concert and recital settings, had winning performances including "Una voce poco fa" from Rossini's The Barber of Seville and "The Boy From..." by Mary Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim.
Felder looks forward to next year's competition and working with new classical music students at UCLA. Despite the lack of specific details about future editions of the competition, it is clear that it is a valuable opportunity for classical musicians to showcase their talents and grow as performers.
In the realm of education-and-self-development, the Hershey Felder Competition for Classical Musicians offers a platform for classical musicians to demonstrate their talents and evolve as performers. This annual event, organized by Hershey Felder, a renowned figure in the entertainment industry, provides an opportunity for UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music students to explore their individuality while being inspired to make every note count.
