Students Sought for First Night Sing-Off

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today's date: October 16, 2012
Media Contacts:
Equitable Gas, Scott Waitlevertch, (412) 395-2314                     
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Diana Roth, (412) 471-8717, roth@trustarts.org
                       

Student Stars Sought for Equitable Gas Sing-Off at Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013

Cash awards available for winner and school music programs.

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Equitable Gas Company is searching for musically talented students to audition for the company’s third vocal competition celebrating the New Year. The Equitable Gas Sing-Off is part of the upcoming Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and continues the company’s commitment to opening opportunities for young people in greater Pittsburgh.

The winner will perform live as the opening act for the Equitable Gas Marquee Performances at the Benedum Center during Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013.  In addition the winner will receive a cash prize of $500 and the winner’s school will receive a cash prize of $1,500 designated to the music department, compliments of Equitable Gas Company.  Finally, the winner will receive complimentary Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013 admission buttons.

Similar to a number of talent shows currently popular on television, students from grades 6 through 12 who are affiliated with a middle or high school in Southwestern Pennsylvania may submit a video audition performance of a song that conveys the spirit of the New Year. Individual students and groups of 20 or fewer should upload a video up to 5 minutes in length to YouTube, and then submit it to the Equitable Gas Sing-Off contestant page on the Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013 website. Additional contest information and the entry form are available on the Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2013 website, FirstNightPgh.org. The application deadline is November 16, 2012.

“For the third year in a row, Equitable Gas is proud to sponsor the Equitable Gas Sing-Off.  We believe there is a tremendous amount of undiscovered musical talent here in greater Pittsburgh.  The Sing-Off permits young people who aspire to perform to showcase their musical talents with the ultimate goal of singing on one of Pittsburgh’s biggest stages on New Year’s Eve”, said Bill Lucas, President of Equitable Gas. “It is our privilege to continue our sponsorship of this premier holiday event with its many family-friendly activities.”

“Highmark First Night is a great forum for expressing and celebrating the vitality and youthfulness of our city through the arts. We’re thrilled to continue this tradition of showcasing the talented students of our region and are grateful to Equitable Gas for their dedication to infusing energy into the Cultural District,” said Darcy Kucenic, Director of Highmark First Night Pittsburgh and Manager of Education & Operations for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.  “The Equitable Gas Sing-Off is a perfect complement to Highmark First Night Pittsburgh, powerfully depicting celebration, resolution, community and hope through song.”

A production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is a unique, family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration focused on the arts. Held in more than 200 cities worldwide, the festival is a wonderful way to bring in the New Year in an uplifting, alcohol-free atmosphere. Centered in the Cultural District, Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is a joyous celebration of the arts, featuring everything from children’s activities to performances by nationally-known musicians to installations by local artists and a spectacular fireworks finale. Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is a licensee of First Night® USA, the national association of community-based New Year’s Eve arts festivals.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh’s 14-block Cultural District through public and private support.  The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the District, and is an impetus for additional development in downtown Pittsburgh.      

Equitable Gas Company is a provider of safe and dependable natural gas service to approximately 275,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers located mainly in the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.  Its customer base also includes more than 200 municipalities in nine other counties in western Pennsylvania, 12 counties in central and northern West Virginia, and nine counties in eastern Kentucky.  Additional information about Equitable Gas can be obtained through its website at www.equitablegas.com.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh