Sleepy Hollow's Bianca Muniz Named 'Rising Star'

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Jazz Forum Arts (JFA), the top presenter of jazz artists in Westchester County recently announced its winners of its 1^st Annual Vocal Jazz Competition. Held on Saturday, May 5^th at Nepperhan Community Center in Yonkers, JFA’s  competition auditioned 17 acts for the opportunity to showcase their artistry during JFA’s 2012 free Summer Concert Series. 

The 2012 winners of JFA’s 1rst Annual Jazz Competition are:

• Alexis Cole of Peekskill
• Lisa Gary of Great Neck
• High 5 Vocalworks of Palisades
• Angel Rose of Bronx
• Cole Rumbough of Greenwich, CT
• Irene Renee of Bronxville

JFA’s “Rising Stars” (Jazz artists under 18 years of age) are:

• Bianca Muniz of Sleepy Hollow
• Carly Rose Sonenclar of Mamaroneck

“JFA and its Board are thrilled by the extremely positive response we have received for our first-ever vocal jazz competition,” said Mark Morganelli, Founder and Executive Director for JFA, which operates out of Dobbs Ferry. “We are truly grateful to all of the talented artists, including our fabulous judges, who participated in our competition on Saturday. Our winners are stellar and we at JFA look forward to presenting them this summer during our County-wide concert series.”

JFA auditioned jazz vocalists, from soloists and duos to a cappella groups. Auditioning jazz artists were judged on how well they sang in the jazz style (i.e. phrasing, musicality, scatting, performance and tone). The 2012 judges for JFA’s competition were Grammy Award-winning vocalist, Maya Azucena; award-winning Canadian jazz vocalist, Melissa Stylianou; veteran jazz drummer and vocalist, Tony Jefferson; Grammy-nominated vocalist and Adjunct Jazz Professor for the New School, Janet Lawson; JFA Board Member and accomplished jazz vocalist, Tyrha M. Lindsey; and JFA Board Chair, John Gunther-Mohr. 

For more information on JFA’s 1st Annual Vocal Jazz Competition and its winners, visit www.jazzforumarts.org.