Kristina Thomas, First Place Tie,

Kristina is a senior at Notre Dame Preparatory where she sings with the Saints Alive show choir and is active in the Drama Club.  She regularly plays “character roles,” from the Witch in Into the Woods to Carmen in Curtains.  And last spring when the Upscale Singers presented their annual Broadway revue, Kristina as our first-place scholarship winner in 2008 sang the role of Eponine in a medley from Les Miserables.  

Kristina has volunteered at the Arizona Magic and Dance Camp, a program for physically-challenged youth her last three summers.  

Kristina has received an academic scholarship to the University of Arizona where she will major in both Business and Music.    

Rebecca Zaner, First Place Tie,

Rebecca is a lyric soprano committed to her dream of becoming a professional opera singer. She took early graduation as a junior from Horizon High School so she could study more intensely with her voice teacher Mary Sue Hyatt, a professor-emerita from Kent State University.

Rebecca remembers seeing an Arizona Opera production of Susannah-- her very first opera. Two years later, she saw Orfeo ed Euridice at the Metropolitan Opera House. Says Rebecca, “I never imagined anything so spectacular!”

Rebecca has won an impressive array of awards and scholarships, including a 2008 scholarship to attend the summer opera program in Lucca, Italy. She’s been coached by Lorenzo Malfatti, Joan Krueger, and Franc D’Ambrosio, the “world’s longest running Phantom.” For more information on this talented young singer, visit her web site: www.rebeccazaner.com.

Rhiannon Malkow, Third Place,

Rhiannon is a junior at Boulder Creek High school, where she sings with two show choirs, Bel Canto (mixed) and Bella Voce (women’s choir). One of her favorite memories was performing at a retirement home, and seeing how happy everyone was to hear her sing.

Rhiannon wants to be a music teacher some day, though she doesn’t know yet whether to teach elementary or high school. Still, one thing is certain: She wants to help kids connect with music. As Rhiannon says, “Music has done so much for me… I want other people to experience that joy.”

Melissa Nelson, Honorable Mention,

Melissa, a freshman at Cactus Shadows, is well-known these days for organizing the Rock the District concert last September, a benefit concert at El Pedregal that featured twelve local teens and raised over $4,000 for the music programs at CCUSD.

Melissa has received an Upscale scholarship all three years that they’ve sponsored a competition. She’s performed with five different theater groups, including our local Desert Foothills Theater and the Upscale Kids. Now Melissa has immersed herself in high school activities, from the cross country team to the drama club and the brand new “Singular Sensations” advanced performance team.

Cassie Poincelot, Honorable Mention

Cassie, a sophomore at Cactus Shadows High School, won an Upscale scholarship in the first year of competition. She’s been singing since she was four, and counts her first talent show as a favorite music memory. Cassie knows her life will always be filled with music. As she says, “Music is everywhere I go. It’s like my own personal stalker!”

Cassie plays the flute and sings in the Cactus Shadows Honors Choir. And she has big dreams for her future: She’d like to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston to study music therapy.