Grand Prix

A wonderful thing happened to me just a few days ago – I won my first Grand Prix! Yeeeey, congrats to me! I am extraordinary happy about it, so I’m going to tell a little story about how it was, what it was, where it was and how many amazing people I have met! And in addition, I don’t want it to be just a praise to the awesomeness of me winning, I want it to be useful to someone who’s going to a competition, so I will try to compare this experience with the previous one I had at the same competition, what I have done wrong then and what I did this time. I’ll start from the very beginning.

Ladies and Gents, let me introduce to you one of a few competitions for jazz vocals left in Europe – the Jazz Voices! Jazz Voices is an international competition for vocalists from all over the world, anyone under the age of 35 can apply. You just send out a demo and then the committee decides if you’re good enough. The competition takes place in Lithuania, in a small town called Klaipeda, which is amazing and beautiful. In the semi-finals you have to sing 2 tunes (one from a compulsory program, another one is of your own free choice) and 3 tunes in the finals (2 compulsory, 1 free). First time i went to this competition was in 2012, but then i only got to the finals, no prizes at all, and there was a reason for that. First of all, i took some very complicated tunes. Secondly, the arrangements were not the easiest as well. And last, but not least important – I wasn’t confident enough. When you have only 40 minutes to prepare 3 tunes, you have to be ready and you have to be able to conduct the band, to lead them in the right direction, be able to foresee possible complications. I have made a list of what I would recommend to those who are going to a competition, I’m not stating that I’m an expert on that, just some things from my own experience, but later about that, first I want to say something about another thing.

I have to say, that I met a lot of great singers there. I was number 4 in the semi-finals, so I listened to everyone, the concert was a true pleasure. That’s the thing I like about competitions – where else you can find this many awesome singers in one place? And these singers are not just awesome in what they do, they are amazing by themselves – girls (and a boy), I had the most wonderful time with you! It was fun, creative (we even worked through a concept of an alternative girls band, you know what I’m talking about, right? Thank you so much for this, I am honored to know you! So I hope no one will blame me for advertising a bit!

Picture time!

Meet Aushra – she’s a wonderful young singer from Lithuania and a winner of the Audience prize! Aushra Paliushe

Oh, Liz… My God, you are so cool! Everybody, check her web page! You have to hear her! 

Oh, Vaida, my red haired love! She was a host at the competition with her lovely British accent, but she is also a singer, a pop one (and soon to be the master of philosophy)! Check her out! 

Paula – this Spanish girl charmed me, so cute, like a doll! And she can rap, yep, I can’t do that :) Paula Grande! 

Kristjan – the only boy in the competition, 3rd prize, a pleasure to listen to! Kristjan Illumae 

Now here on the left is Mariko from Japan, darling, the high notes you take are stunning! Mariko Awada

Now, right in the middle, between Vaida and Paula is Gizem, she’s from Turkey and she has this lovely bluesy voice, God Bless The Child was impressive! Gizem Canka

So, back to the useful part! If I had to make a list of what a singer has to do to be ready for everything, it would look like this:

1. The tunes shouldn’t be very complicated

2. The arrangements shouldn’t be very complicated

3. The scores have to be prepared very carefully – less repetition marks, chords should be visible, every accent should be highlighted.

4. Would be nice to have the melody written down, so that the musicians could be able to follow you

5. If you have scores on multiple pages – tape them together not to waste time at the rehearsal

6. Sign the scores – tunes of “name of the singer”, scores for “musician” , because probably they will give you back the scores and at a concert you will have to give it to them, if your scores are signed and if they have made some remarks in them – you should know which pack of paper belongs to whom.

7. You have to lead the band. Even though you might mark some places with special signs or text, wouldn’t hurt to remind them – we do the fermata here, leave me with the double bass here, etc.

8. You give the tempo, only you know what’s best for you

9. Keep contact with the band and with the audience.

10. You have to be chilled, nothing to worry about, you do what you do best – sing, that’s your thing, why be afraid? If you’re confident inside, you’re confident outside, people see that, they can feel your emotion whether you want it or not, especially fear. Fear is destructive, no one needs it.

Basically that’s it. Well, except for the tune choice. But here, well, only one thing i know – you should choose only the tunes that show you best from all sides – lyrical, funny, energetic, aggressive, calm, in love, sad, joyful, whatever you can be.

One last thing – the band. In truth these people do more than enyone else. Usually in competitions there is one band for all contestants, that means, that while the contestants have one rehearsal and one concert, they have 12 rehearsals instead of one. So I just have to say thank you. Thank you for being there, thank you for not getting mad, irritated, not showing that you’re tired, for paying attention, for doing your thing wonderfully! Darius, Arnoldas, Vytis, Algis – you are the best! My respects to you!

Cheers!