Scottsdale singers remain committed to supporting youth musicians

The Scottsdale-based Upscale Singers are still performing — just not in person this spring — but their commitment to musical opportunities for youth hasn’t changed.

While anticipating a return to in-person concerts later this year, Scottsdale’s premier adult singers have turned to music videos to satisfy their joy of performing and share it with their fans, according to a press release.

They released five Christmas videos on upscalesingers.com and are in the process of creating three more videos this spring: “Mamma Mia,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “Thank You for the Music.” All will be viewable on upscalesingers.com as well as on their YouTube channel, Upscale SingersAZ.

Despite the pandemic-induced shutdown of concerts, the group has continued to fund its Student Vocal Scholarship program with the help of a generous grant from Kiwanis Club of Carefree, the press release stated.

The program known as the Cheryl Siebs Memorial Vocal Scholarships provides young singers in the north Valley with monetary awards for private vocal instruction.

This year, a total of $3,000 was awarded to the following winners:

• Senior Division: 1st, Ashley Bragg; 2nd, Mary Davis; 3rd, Maya King; 4th, Christopher Poulios; 5th, Abigail Conly; honorable mention, Keagan Smith.
• Junior Division: 1st, Lennon Hammond; 2nd, Lila Weber; 3rd, Libby Ikesaki; 4th, Noelle Hammond; honorable mention, Sofia R. Doe, Rosie Andersen and Jayden Hawley.

In December, the Upscale Singers were able to give an outdoor performance for Kiwanis Club’s December meeting at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion in Carefree Town Center. While this spring’s concerts had to be canceled, the group plans to resume rehearsals in the fall and welcomes new singers.

To find out more, email director Margaret Watson at margetme@cox.net.