2021 NYC songSLAM Festival
We were thrilled to present the 5th annual 2021 NYC songSLAM festival from January 11th to 22nd.
2021 songSLAM FESTIVAL COMMISSIONS
Despite the limitations of the pandemic, we are continuing our mission to engage in current conversations through insightful publishing, programming, and commissioning. The 2021 songSLAM Festival featured two such commissions, which premiered virtually on January 22nd. The performances are available to watch below, and on our YouTube channel, with scores available for purchase here.
2021 songSLAM COMPETITION PRIZE WINNERS
Although voting is finished, we encourage you to watch the 14 incredible songs that premiered as a part of our 5th annual NYC songSLAM competition! Videos are below, and detailed information on each premiere is available on the linked YouTube page.
1st Prize: Team 11 - Greenport, Long Island: A Socially Distanced Diva - Evan Fein, composer/poet/pianist, and April Martin, soprano
2nd Prize: Team 12 - Isolation - Michael Lewis, composer/pianist, and CodyRay Caho, baritone
3rd Prize: Team 13 - Sin título - Alexa Babakhanian, composer/pianist, and Anna Tonna, mezzo-soprano
Mentorship Prize: Evan Fein, composer - Greenport, Long Island: A Socially Distanced Diva
Commission Prize: Rachel DeVore Fogarty, composer - Prime
Along with all the other wonderful benefits that this event provides for our musical community, the NYC songSLAM raised funds to benefit Sparks & Wiry Cries, allowing us to continue our mission of commissioning and presenting diverse musicians.
2021 songSLAM Festival Commissions
Ramadan 20 vs. Covid 19
Acclaimed poet jessica Care moore explores the relationship between life, faith, race, and death in her Ramadan 20 vs. Covid 19, set to music by Andrew Staniland and performed by soprano LaToya Lain and pianist Erika Switzer.
Andrew Staniland, composer
jessica Care moore, poet
LaToya Lain, soprano
Erika Switzer, pianist
Ciudad perdida (The Lost City)
In Ciudad perdida, composer Reinaldo Moya sets the poetry of Adalber Salas Hernández to conjure a profound sense of place for Caracas, the city of Moya’s youth, before his migration and immigration to the United States.
Reinaldo Moya, composer
Adalber Salas Hernández, poet
Maria Brea, soprano
Howard Watkins, pianist
2021 songSLAM Competitors
Introduction
Sparks & Wiry Cries co-founders Erika Switzer and Martha Guth introduce the 2021 virtual NYC songSLAM.
Team 3 • Monotone
Francis Snyder, composer
Marissa Plati, soprano
Muse Ye, pianist
Team 6 • The Morning After the Storm
Ben Yee-Paulson, composer/pianist
Helen Zhibing Huang, soprano
Team 9 • Why, what is Tybalt?
Nathan Halbur, composer/pianist
Angela Yam, soprano
Team 12 • Isolation
Michael Lewis, composer/pianist
CodyRay Caho, baritone
Team 1 • Prime
Rachel DeVore Fogarty, composer/pianist
Stefanie Izzo, soprano
Team 4 • Mary’s Song
Jake Landau, composer/pianist
Temple Hammen, soprano
Team 7 • Salt
Frances Pollock, composer
Ashley Becker, soprano
Keith Chambers, pianist
Team 10 • [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]
Tyler Weakland, composer/pianist
Rebecca Dias, soprano
Team 13 • Sin título
Alexa Babakhanian, composer/pianist
Anna Tonna, mezzo-soprano
Team 2 • Sarah’s Lament
Sally Lamb McCune, composer
Jessica Laddin, soprano
Sungmin Kim, pianist
Team 5 • Say Not, Sweet Anne
Casey Halloran, composer/soprano
Jason Steiner, pianist
Team 8 • Do You See the Flag?
Curtis J. Stewart, composer
Gregory Feldmann, baritone
Nathaniel LaNasa, pianist
Team 11 • Greenport, Long Island: A Socially Distanced Diva
Evan Fein, composer/poet/pianist
April Martin, soprano
Team 14 • Temporary Insanity
Jon Irabagon, composer
Jennifer Beattie, mezzo-soprano/poet
Adam Marks, pianist