Two OHIO College of Fine Arts students to compete online in national voice competition

Alumnus Luke Frazier, founder and maestro of The American Pops Orchestra (APO), announced that two Ohio University College of Fine Arts students will compete virtually in the 3rd Annual NextGen: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow, a vocal competition for college students Frazier, MM ’09, founded. Cash prizes will be awarded and the first-place winner will be featured in an APO show during the 2020-2021 season.

With the March competition set to take place in Washington D.C. postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the APO worked with the student semi-finalists to quickly transform the event into a virtual competition. OHIO College of Fine Arts student semi-finalists are sophomore Max Swartout, a music education major in the School of Music, and first-year Kaylee Michael, a musical theater major in the School of Theater. They will join 28 other semi-finalists from universities across the country to compete for the top prize.

“It’s always great to see the legacy of excellence at Ohio University continue, and these two students personify excellence!” says Frazier, MM ’09.

On Friday, April 24th at 8:00 pm and again on Saturday, April 25th at 8:00 pm, the semi-finalists will perform for a panel of judges and the virtual audience will have the opportunity to vote for their preferred student. “NextGen: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow” will be streamed online and registration to participate is free. Winners will be announced live on Sunday, April 26th at 8:00 p.m.

Participating Colleges and Universities include American University, The Catholic University of America, Frostburg State University, George Mason University, Howard University, James Madison University, Liberty University, Marshall University, University of Mary Washington, Ohio University, Temple University, West Virginia University, and the College of William and Mary.