Entergy Texas presents rising Texas artists

Promising Pavarottis and budding Beethovens will showcase their classical talents during a renewed and improved Young Texas Artists Music competition March 13-15.

This year's competition promises a new level of talent due to stronger ties with area music programs and universities, as well as additional talent sources. Emelyne Bingham, the competition's new artistic director, said event organizers also reached out to potential applicants via the popular social Web site, Facebook.

"The use of Facebook not only allowed for increased marketing, but also reached Texas residents attending out-of-state schools," said Bingham.

The three-day public event gives the contestants, numbering 46 this year, an opportunity to compete for cash prizes and performance opportunities across the state. As in past years, there are four competition categories: piano, voice, strings and a category combining winds, brass, percussion, harp and guitar. The competition is open to Texas residents or students, ages 18-30, who are enrolled in a Texas college, university or music school.

After an intense round of preliminaries, the finalists will compete at the concert of finalists on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Crighton Theatre in downtown Conroe. This year's emcee is Chris Johnson, afternoon concert host for KUHF 88.7 FM Houston Public Radio.

Bingham said that with the reduction of extra information between acts, the competition should have a lighter, livelier feel and move at a faster pace.

Preliminary rounds are open to the public at no charge, and the schedule is as follows:

Thursday - Strings at 12:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Friday - Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar at 9 - 11 a.m.;Voice at 11:15 a.m. - noon and 1:30 - 3:45 p.m.

Saturday - Piano at 9 - 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 - 2 p.m.

Tickets for the Saturday evening concert of finalists are $22 and are available through the Crighton Theatre box office at 936-441-SHOW (936-441- 7469).

Preliminary rounds and the concert of finalists are held at the Crighton Theatre, 234 Main Street, Conroe.

For more information contact Susie Pokorski, chairwoman of the Young Texas Artists Music Competition, at 936-756-7017 or visit www. youngtexasartists.org.