Sinead O'Connor, Alt-J, The Killers, Aimee Mann, Dustin Lynch, Rosanne Cash, and More Sign On As Judges

December 17, 2014 - Unsigned Only Music Competition revealed today its high-profile judging panel for the 2015 competition, which is now accepting entries. The renowned panel consists of iconic recording artists and journalists and will determine the winners in eleven categories representing a wide variety of commercial genres of music.

Designed for solo artists, bands, and singers who are not signed to a major label, Unsigned Only's goal is to find an outstanding, talented performing artist: a band, singer, or solo artist. Unsigned Only gives away over $100,000 in cash and prizes, including $10,000 in cash and one-on-one mentoring by an elite group of record company executives to the overall Grand Prize winner. First and Second Place winners in each category will also be chosen. The deadline to enter is March 18, 2015. Original and cover songs are accepted in all categories except for Screen Shot which accepts original songs only.

Artists may enter into any of the following categories: Adult Album Alternative (AAA) Adult Contemporary (AC); Americana; Christian; Country; Folk/Singer-Songwriter; R&B/Hip-Hop; Rock; Pop/Top 40; Screen Shot; Teen; and Vocal Performance.

Screen Shot is a new category that has been added this year, and it is geared toward helping artists get their music in film, TV, video games, and advertising. Music execs who are looking to place music in various projects will be judging this category and will also provide advice on music licensing to the winner of the category. Included are: Michelle Bayer (Shelly Bay Music); Michelle Silverman (Modern Planet); Ani Johnson (Monomyth Media); Evan Stein (Experience Music Group); Velma Barkwell (East End Music Productions); Jen Taunton (Level Two Music); and more to be announced.

"Last year Screen Shot was a special promotion that we ran for entrants," says Founders/Directors Candace Avery and Jim Morgan. "The response was huge and was a great success for many artists who were able to secure licensing deals for their music. This is just another way for Unsigned Only to help its entrants, and we are excited to be able to open these new doors for independent artists."

Judges include :  Aimee Mann; Alt-J; Dustin Lynch; Sinead O'Connor; The Killers; Rosanne Cash; David Crowder; Robert Smith (The Cure); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Ray Wylie Hubbard; Aaron Shust; Lucero; Kelly Price; Colt Ford; Frank Foster; Jason Gray; Rapsody; Kool And The Gang; Anthony DeCurtis (Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone); Kyle Anderson (Senior Writer, Entertainment weekly); Josh Jackson (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Paste Magazine); Chris Richards (Pop Music Critic, The Washington Post); Michael Hann (Music Editor, The Guardian); Shirley Halperin (Music Editor, Billboard and Hollywood Reporter); Lucy Jones (Deputy Editor, NME); Hardeep Phull (Music Critic, New York Post); and more to be announced.

Unsigned Only is sponsored by: Sony Creative Software, Guitar Center, D'Addario, Disc Makers, Ultimate Ears, Lurssen Mastering, Master Tour by Eventric, and The Music Business Registry.

For entry and general information, please go to http://www.unsignedonly.com

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ALLIANCE, OH (12/12/2014)(readMedia)-- Courtney Wachal, a senior French and international relations major of Bettendorf, IA, performed in the University of Mount Union's Christmas Festival in December in Myers Sanctuary of Dewald Chapel on Mount Union's campus.

The joint performances from the Concert Choir and Cantus Femina showcased two vocal ensembles that are integral components of Mount Union's music program. The annual holiday concert unites choral selections and traditional carols with scripture and readings of the season.

The Visual and Performing Arts Since Mount Union's founding in 1846, study of the visual and performing arts has been fundamental to the philosophy, mission and liberal arts foundation of the University and the exceptional education it provides. Today, Mount Union offers majors in art, music, music education, music performance and theatre, and hundreds of students participate each year in artistic, musical and theatrical endeavors at the co-curricular level no matter what their majors or career aspirations.

In addition, Mount Union also seeks to provide cultural enrichment and entertainment to the Alliance and surrounding communities. The public is welcomed and encouraged to attend exhibits, recitals, concerts and performances throughout the year. Visit mountunion.edu to access a calendar of events

MOUNT VERNON, IA (12/08/2014)(readMedia)-- Matt Hamma of Davenport was one of more than 50 students who participated in the Cornell College holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 6 in King Chapel.

Hamma is a member of the Concert Choir.

The concert, titled "A Gift of Song," featured the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. The featured works were Daniel Pinkham's "Christmas Cantata" with organ and brass, as well as carols, spirituals, and motets.

One of the 40 "Colleges That Change Lives," Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a national liberal arts college with a distinctive One Course At A Time curriculum. The One Course schedule provides students the chance to dive into their studies, focus more intensely on the disciplines of their choice, and learn authentically with the unique freedom to shed the confines of the traditional classroom to study off-campus, pursue research, or accept an internship--all without missing out on other classes.

Cornell has been recognized by numerous publications for the value its education offers and for academic excellence. This year it was named of the 100 best values in liberal arts education by Kiplinger's, one of the "Best Value Schools" among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, and one of the 100 Affordable Elite Colleges by Washington Monthly. Ninety-three percent of Cornell graduates earn their degrees in four years. In 2013 Cornell was named one of the 25 colleges with the best professors by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

Nova Singers, under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, presents two performances of A Nova Christmas on Friday, December 19, 7:30pm at St. Paul Lutheran in Davenport, and on Saturday, December 20, 7:30pm at First Lutheran Church in Galesburg.

Celebrate the holiday season with Nova Singers and join the many families who have made this their annual tradition!  We'll sing standard old favorites such as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and The Holly and the Ivy, new versions of some of your favorite Christmas carols like Lo, How a Rose and O Come, O Come Emmanuel, an African carol with drums, and Kevin Memley's incomparable O Magnum Mysterium. Join us for a beautiful night of laughter, hope, peace and joy.

 

Dr. Lane talks about the program: "What people love most about the Nova Christmas program is still the same:  beautiful new arrangements of familiar carols, hauntingly sweet melodies in a variety of tempos and styles.  What I'm really excited about, though, is what's new this year:  Betelehemu, an African carol with drumming, clapping and movement, and a Pentatonics arrangement of Carol of the Bells with vocal percussion! Plus, people have loved our vocal jazz renditions for years, and this year we have jazz arrangements of In dulci jubilo, I Wonder as I Wander, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Deck the Hall.  But now, with the Pentatonics tune, we're expanding into the world of a cappella!"

For our Galesburg concert, students from the Galesburg High School Chamber Singers will join Nova Singers. For the Davenport concert, the Sudlow Select Choir will be guests of the Nova Singers.

Nova Singers, a professional vocal ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, hopes to share our musical soul with you.  Nova Singers is known for the beauty, charm, sincerity and emotional power the singers impart to their music.

Tickets will be available at the door. Admission is $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Students are admitted free of charge.  Season tickets are still available for purchase at the door: $60 for adults and $50 for seniors.  For information about tickets, recordings, or other Nova Singers' events visit our website at www.novasingers.com!

 

Nova Singers' 2014-2015 season is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and with Quad City Arts Dollar$ funds, provided by Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, the Doris and Victor Day Foundation, and Deere & Company.