Florida Federation of Music Clubs

57th Annual

STEPHEN FOSTER/JEANIE AUDITIONS & BALL

October 5-6 2007
Stephen Foster Memorial Park
White Springs, Florida
VOICE SCHOLARSHIPS
Jeanie, $1,500
Plus golden necklace, tiara, appearances
Four Jeanie Maids, each $750
Stephen, $1,000
2007 Winners
Stephen, Jeanie and her maids
Qualifications:
Jeanie contest: female 17 - 22 years (not yet 23 by auditions)
Stephen contest: male 18 - 23 years (not yet 24 by auditions)
Voice/music student and permanent Florida resident
Sponsored by a FLORIDA FEDERATION OF MUSIC CLUBS Senior Club
Co-sponsored by Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center, White Springs, Florida

HISTORY OF THE STEPHEN FOSTER / JEANIE BALL AND AUDITIONS

The Stephen Foster Jeanie Ball and Auditions originated in December, 1951 to encourage promising young Florida female vocal students. The first music scholarship award was presented to the winning Jeanie in 1954 by Stephen Foster’s closest living relative, Evelyn Foster Morneweck. For 2006, the auditions will be open to male contestants as well due to the generous endowment by our president, Connie Tuttle-Lill.

The Stephen Foster/Jeanie Ball and Auditions, sponsored by the Florida Federation of Music Clubs, are held on the first Friday and Saturday of October each year at the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center in White Springs, Florida. Qualified judges select five female finalists. One is crowned Jeanie and receives a $1,500 scholarship; four Jeanie Maids each are awarded $750. These same judges also select a male vocalist to receive the Stephen award of $1,000. Our hope is that these scholarship winners will use their awards to continue their vocal studies.

We welcome your donations to support this event. The names of all donors will be listed on the program. Contribution categories are as follows:

  Oh! Susanna ($200 or more)
  Beautiful Dreamer ($100-$199)
  Camptown Races (under $100)

Please send donations (payable to FFMC) directly to:

  Jim Weisenborne
7459 Cabbage Palm Court
Sarasota, Florida 34241

Qualifying Rules for Jeanie/Stephen Scholarship Auditions and Ball, 5-6 October 2007
1. Contestants must be sponsored by a Florida Federation of Music Clubs Senior Music Club.
 
2. Contestants must be legal residents of Florida and American citizens by 1 July 2007, either native-born or naturalized. Proof of these requirements may be requested
   
3. Age requirements: Female voice applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 22 by the date of audition. Male voice applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 23 by the date of audition.
   
4. Only advanced vocalists are acceptable (those capable of giving a creditable radio, television or concert performance).
   
5. Applications must be accompanied by a nonrefundable entry fee of $50 (payable to FFMC) by 15 September 2007.
   
6. Contestants may furnish their own accompanist, or for a fee of $50.00 an accompanist will be provided (music must be included with application form by the September 15, 2007 deadline.)
   
7. Costumes: Female contestants must audition in a ball gown circa 1854 using the pattern designed for the audition (including a mandatory 1854 hair style). A pattern will be sent if requested. Male finalists must audition in traditional 1854-style formal cutaway attire.
   
8. Audition Repertoire: Each contestant must prepare two songs for the audition: one by Stephen Foster and an art song by a native-born or naturalized American composer. Operatic arias are not allowed in competition, but an aria by an American composer may be performed by the Jeanie/Stephen winner in their presentation recital following the competition. Total performing time for audition selections shall NOT exceed 7 minutes.
   
 
  Submit alternate selections for all songs. In case of duplication, the earliest application will prevail.
   
  Female contestants may not sing Foster's Old Folks at Home or I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair.
   
  Male contestants must be prepared to sing I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair to the female winner in the event that the male is chosen as "Stephen."
   
9. Photocopies of original Foster song arrangements are permissible. In addition to a copy for the accompanist, three copies should be made available so that each of the three judges will have his or her own.
   
10. For the American composer selection, observe the United States copyright law. No photocopies will be allowed. Each judge must have his or her own legal copy of the music. Delete any identifying information on the music such as sponsoring club, vocal teacher's name, etc.
   
11. Once vocal selections are made and approved by the Audition and Ball Committee, NO CHANGES MAY BE MADE by contestants.
   
12. Winners of the Jeanie/Stephen titles may be asked to perform during their reign. First-place Jeanie/Stephen winners may not enter future auditions.
   
13. Failure to comply with these rules will result in disqualification.
   
  Rev 072807
   

To apply for the Stephen Foster/Jeanie Auditions, print out the application form and follow the instructions. If you cannot access the entry form you may need to obtain a copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader. To get a free copy, visit the Adobe web site by clicking on the following logo:

  Acrobat Reader


2007 Stephen, Jeanie and her Maids

(click picture for full size image)
Stephen and Jeanie

2007 Jeanie - Marisa Rivera 
2007 Stephen - Giovanni Maschi

(standing from left)
Vanessa Richetti
Marisa Rivera - Jeanie 2007
Giovanni Maschi - Stephen 2007
Katie Bell

(seated)
Meredith Nance
Nicole Estima
 

(Updated: Sunday, January 13, 2008)