Masi Asare Voice Studio July 2015 VOICE LESSON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM What would you do with 8 free voice lessons? Work on your high notes? Experiment with a new vocal style? Strengthen your voice so it doesn’t tire out quickly? Learn some new songs that you’ve always wanted to sing? The Voice Lesson Scholarship provides 8 free voice lessons, free of charge, for a woman of color pursuing a career as a singer in New York City. The scholarship is designed to help an early-career singer or singer-actress launch her career. The focus is on popular vocal styles (pop, rock, jazz, blues, alt country, musical theatre, etc.). Maybe you’re a dancer who has always wanted to sing but never had the chance to take lessons. Maybe you recently graduated from college and need a way to keep improving your skills while you’re auditioning. Maybe you sing and play with a band but find your voice gets tired out toward the end of the set and you’re not sure why. Maybe you studied opera and now you want to learn how to sing pop songs without hurting your voice. Maybe you’re an actress who loves singing but you’re not sure how to fight through some of the stereotypes you see in musical theatre and stay true to yourself. Apply for this scholarship! DEADLINE: AUGUST 31, 2015 Eligibility* You can apply if you are: ● an early-career singer (not yet achieved major professional success, however you define this) ● a woman of color (however you self-define this) ● pursuing a career as a singer (however you define this) ● not a full-time student during fall 2015 ● at least 18 years old How to Apply Email these 3 things to [email protected]: ● A completed application form including artist statement ● An emailed recommendation from a teacher or industry professional sent directly from your recommender to [email protected] ● A link to one recorded track of your singing. (Don’t have this? Record yourself on your phone and upload it on Soundcloud.com.) *If you are not eligible for this scholarship but would still like to take lessons and money is tight, email me at [email protected]. Maybe we can work something out. Masi Asare Voice Studio July 2015 Timeline ● Applications are due AUGUST 31, 2015 ● Finalists will be invited to an informal audition/lesson in early September ● Scholarship winner will be announced in mid September 2015 ● Lessons will be held in the fall of 2015 at a studio in midtown Manhattan ● The lesson schedule is TBA, but likely every other week on Saturday afternoons. If this schedule does not work for you, please make a note on the application form and indicate which times are preferable for you. FAQ ● Can I apply even if I’ve never taken voice lessons before? Yes, as long as you are pursuing a career as a singer/performing artist. ● Can I apply even if I have had a lot of voice lessons before? Yes, as long as you consider yourself an early-career artist. ● More questions? Email [email protected] About MASI ASARE I’m a composer/lyricist, writer, and voice coach. My voice students have performed on Broadway, in national and international tours, major regional theatre venues, cruise ships, and the finals of the Miss America pageant. My musical Sympathy Jones (book by Brooke Pierce) premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2007, starring Kate Shindle, and is now published by Playscripts and has received more than 20 productions internationally. Additional writing projects include a new musical based on stories of my west African grandmother, which has been developed with guidance from Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Stephen Sondheim. As a singer, I have performed jazz, world, electronica, pop, musical theatre and contemporary classical music at venues across New York and beyond. My songs have been performed at Studio 54, Playwrights Horizons, HERE, the New Dramatists, Ars Nova, Dixon Place, and the Julia Miles Theatre. I have worked as a producer of 8Minute Musicals and Raw Impressions Music Theatre, and as a consultant for RIPFEST Collaborative Film Project’s Movie Musicals initiative. I hold degrees in performance studies from Harvard University and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where I am a candidate for the PhD in performance studies and training in Estill Voice Craft. For more info about me and my teaching philosophy: www.masiasarE.com. *If you are not eligible for this scholarship but would still like to take lessons and money is tight, email me at [email protected]. Maybe we can work something out. .