Young Voices of Houston Semifinal, October 16, 2006
Congratulations to the winners...
Sofia Buitrago
Senior, Klein Forest High SchoolGrand Prize Winner
$500
Corey Hartzog
Senior, HomeschoolSecond Place Winner
$300
Kristyn Chalker
Senior, Cy-Creek High SchoolThird Place Winner
$200
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Missed the last Young Voices of Houston performance? Not to worry! At RateMyYVOHPerformance.com, you can view all the performances from the last Young Voices of Houston competition, rate videos and even leave [constructive] feedback for the contestants! Watch the videos now!Congratulations to ALL our finalists, in order by appearance...
Jennifer Jones is a senior at Cy-Fair High school and is a two-year member of the top choral varsity program, Cy-Fair Singers, under the direction of Jed Ragsdale. She has been involved in numerous plays and musicals at Cypress Academy of Performing Arts directed by Maggie Ford including Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, Maria from The Sound of Music, and Rosie from Bye, Bye Birdie. She will be singing, Defying Gravity.Hannah Miller is a sophomore at Klein Collins High School. She is very active in her choir and is beginning to become active in theater. She recently performed in Bye Bye Birdie with ACE theater. As a freshman she placed 6th at Pre-Are auditions and was 1st at NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) in musical theater. She would like to thank her mom and voice teacher Bob Collet for helping her.
Rebecca Naomi Moyes is a sophomore at St. Thomas Episcopal High School. She cannot remember a time when she didn’t want to be on the stage. She performed in her first musical at the age of 4 and has been in more than 20 since then. Most recently she was in Aladdin at ACT@TUTS. Favorite roles include Erzulie (Once On This Island), Liesl (Sound of Music), Baby Louise (Gypsy), Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker), and principal dancer in Awakening, Stages and Fosse. This summer she was able to share her talents with less priviliged children when she went to work (with her Bible Study group) at orphanages in Mexico. She will be singing, I’d Give My Life For You, from Miss Saigon.
Corey Hartzog is a home-schooled senior who loves to sing and perform. He often performs at Playhouse 1960 on the Main Stage and in many of their childrens’ productions. Most recently, he performed in Aladdin Jr. at TUTS as Aladdin and West Side Story at Playhouse 1960 as Tony. Next you will be able to see him at Mascarade Theater in their production of “Into The Woods”. He would like to thank his friends, family and girlfriend, Chelsea, for their support.
Rebecca Blanda is a junior at Cy Creek. She has been a part of musical theatre since she was 6 and has loved every second of it. She has performed in over 25 shows including the roles of the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Jasmine in Aladdin (all at Playhouse 1960) and Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense at Cy-Creek. Rebecca is also very active in her church and sings at the high school Bible study on Wednesday nights. She would like to thank God above all for giving her her gift and her friends and family for supporting her throughout her many years of performing. She will sing, Man of la Mancha, Linda Eder arrangement.
Kristyn Chalker is a senior at Cypress Creek High School, and was a born performer. At the age of ten, she tried out for her first musical, and the rest is history. A past member of the Texas All-State Choir, Kristyn considers the stage her second home. Her two favorite roles have been “Rizzo” in Grease, and “Sister Amnesia” in Nunsense. She is eternally grateful to her mother for her endless support and her voice teacher Jody Haas for the inspiration. She will be singing, Whatever Happened to My Part from Spamalot.
Sofia Buitrago is a busy senior at Klein Forest involved with the Choir as President also as Editor-in-Chief of the school’s newspaper. She is enjoying being in her school musical, ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ as Lucy, starting October 6- 14. This summer she had a wonderful experience as a volunteer for 8 weeks in Panama with Amigos de las Americas. This has made her acutely aware of the need for helping others who are not as fortunate, whether in our own community or in another country. She believes that as young as we are, we can make a difference with our volunteering efforts. She will be singing, The Girl In 14-G.
Amanda Horelica has been acting and dancing at Cypress Academy of Performing Arts under the direction of Maggie Ford since 2003. Her favorite roles have been; Winifred in Once Upon A Mattress, Shelby in Steel Magnolias, and Audry in Little Shop of Horrors. (She would also like to remind everyone she is God’s personal favorite.) She will be singing, Happily Ever After from Once Upon A Mattress.
Louis Adams-Diaz first started singing when he was 5 in half way houses performing for people who wanted to make their walk closer with God. Then he moved to the Houston Children’s Chorus where he performed in Scotland, England, and Japan. While Louis was in the chorus he sang for Bill Clinton, George Bush Sr. and Jr. He also performed in the Galveston musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. One of his most memorable moments was when he performed at Houston’s Super Bowl singing back up vocals for Josh Groban. He is in his school’s show choir, which does original choreography from the musical Swing and Chicago and much more. Louis has been to district every year and has made ones on all of his solos including 2 class ones in solo in ensemble. He will be singing, The More I See You, by Michael Buble.
About the Judges...
Lynn Jordan
Conductor, singer, keyboardist and teacher, Lynn Jordan has been musically active for over 30 years in a variety of music venues in both Houston and Las Vegas. In addition to teaching privately, Ms. Jordan also teaches public school music, as well as serving as a United Methodist Music Director.Ms. Jordan received her Bachelor of Music degree, cum laude, in Vocal Music Education, from the University of Houston and continued graduate studies in Choral Conducting both there and at Southwest Texas State University. Recently, she completed a course of study at SMU's Perkins School of Theology to become a Certified Director of Music in the United Methodist Church and had the opportunity to study with such notables as Rosemary Heffley, Michael Hawn, Jane Marshall, and Alice Parker.
In recent years, Ms. Jordan has served as Music Director/Worship Leader for churches in the Houston area and has been a member, section director, and patron for the Houston Choral Society for several years. She holds memberships in several music organizations and is also the mother of five grown children and the grandmother of two lively grandsons. She currently resides in Tomball, Texas.
Dr. Christopher Ortiz
Dr. Christopher Ortiz is a first tenor with the Houston Symphony Chorus. Chris holds degrees in vocal performance and conducting from The University of Houston. He has sung with various professional and volunteer groups in Houston and around Texas, including Houston Masterworks Chorus, Houston Grand Opera and Conspirare.Internationally, Chris has sung with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Minera and the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, featured on Telarc recordings. Chris has been active in choral singing since his days at Jersey Village High School.
