Vocal Competition Set for Monday in Berkeley Heights

Fifteen young vocalists will compete at Judith G. Wharton Music Center’s first-ever Vocal Competition on Monday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Berkeley Heights.

Judging the competition will be Broadway and cabaret vocalist Karen Mason, a ten-time MAC Award winner including MAC Award for Major Female Vocalist of the Year for six consecutive years. The audience will also have an opportunity to select its favorite vocalist.

Vocalists ages 12 to 18 include not only vocal students at Wharton Music Center, but also other performing vocalists in the community. The performance is open to the public. Suggested admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 16 and seniors.  The competition will be held at Wharton Music Center located at 60 Locust Avenue in Berkeley Heights.

A $500 scholarship to be credited toward tuition at WMC will be awarded to the best vocal performer. Additionally, scholarships of $150, $100, and $50 will be awarded.

The scholarships are made possible by a generous gift from Diane Lynch of Summit, NJ to establish an annual scholarship in memory of her mother, Margaret Gillen. Ms. Lynch was seeking a way to remember her mother that would benefit others and acknowledge her mother’s love of music. For Ms. Lynch, a scholarship for music students was an ideal choice. Ms. Lynch, who was a member of the Board of Trustees of Wharton Music Center during the mid-1990s, has been studying classical guitar at WMC for several years.