| Syracuse,
NY – May 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / Can you hit the high notes
of America’s National Anthem? The Great
New York State Fair is looking for the next 12 New Yorkers who want
to help the entire state celebrate “the land of the free and the home of
the brave” at the nation’s oldest state fair. The Fair’s “Star Spangled
Challenge” returns this year after a very successful inaugural competition,
Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner announced Thursday (May 19).
Competition submissions can
be made now through June 8, 2016 at bit.ly/StarSpangled2016.
Competitors should create and submit short videos that show them performing
“The Star Spangled Banner.” New this year, a panel of judges will narrow
the entries to 20 finalists. Public voting then begins on a special page
on the Fair’s Facebook site, and the 12 competitors with the highest vote
totals will be selected to sing the anthem on one of the Fair’s 12 days.
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“This was one of the most
successful events we ran last year. New Yorkers from all across the state
wanted a chance to show their American pride at the Fair and fairgoers
told us they loved hearing the different voices and styles. I can’t wait
to see and hear this year’s entries,” said Waffner.
The inaugural competition
in 2015 drew 263 entries from 35 counties representing every region of
the state. A 10 year old girl from Ilion, a registered nurse from Staten
Island, a soldier from Fort Drum, and a member of the New York State Police
who has been a part of the State Fair detail were among the winning performers.
To enter the challenge, contestants
should create videos no longer than three minutes of themselves performing
the first verse of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Performers can sing alone
or in groups, and instrumental-only versions are allowed. There are two
ways to enter the competition:
Entries must be uploaded or
emailed by midnight, June 8, 2016. All entries, however they are submitted,
must include the performer’s name, address and phone number. Emailed entries
will be added to the contest site by Fair staff by the next business day.
Four judges will select 20 finalists. Judges are:
-
Frank Malfitano, Founder and
Executive Producer of the Syracuse Jazz Fest
-
Todd Hobin, singer/songwriter,
composer of scores for film, TV and audiobooks, and adjunct professor in
the music department at LeMoyne College
-
Sistina Giordano, co-host of
“Bridge Street” on Syracuse’s NewsChannel 9
-
Troy Waffner, NYS Fair Acting
Director
Public voting on the 20 finalists
begins June 14 and runs through midnight, July 3. The 12 contestants with
the most votes will be chosen to sing the anthem on the Chevy Court stage
at 9:58 a.m. and again at approximately 1 p.m. in the Toyota Coliseum on
their performance day, which will be assigned at a later date. People are
limited to one vote per person and are encouraged to share the competition
with their Facebook friends to help their chosen candidate.
Winners will be announced
on July 5. They will be notified of the date of their performance prior
to the opening of the Fair. Each winner will also receive four admission
tickets, a parking pass and a $40 voucher good for purchases at the Fair’s
food stands.
About the Great New York
State Fair
The New
York State Fair, operated by the New
York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from August
25 to September 5, 2016. The Fair’s mission, reflected in its theme, “Summer’s
Best In Show!,” is to showcase the best of New York agriculture while providing
top-quality entertainment.
In addition to the annual
New York State Fair, the Fairgrounds host dozens of agricultural events
throughout the year, including some of the Northeast’s most prestigious
horse and livestock shows.
The home of the Great New
York State Fair is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates
all year. A year-round schedule
of events is available on the Fair’s
website. Find The Great New York State Fair on Facebook,
follow @NYSFair on Twitter, and
enjoy photos from the Fair at Flickr.com/photos/nysfair.
Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York
State Fair at statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.
Media Contacts:
Jola
Szubielski
Public Information Officer
NYS Department of Agriculture
& Markets
518-457-0752
Dave
Bullard
Public Relations
New York State Fair
315-487-7711 x 1377 |
