Kai Hoffman – a 2015 Angela Carrington Awards judge

Romy Summers, organizer of Viva Vocals (formerly Vocals@Vortex) invites singers who would like to take part in this year’s Angela Carrington Awards:

The Angela Carrington Awards are an annual singing competition among jazz singers on the London open mic scene, are now in their tenth year and will be held on Sunday 31st May at Brasserie Toulouse Lautrec – address below. This year we are changing proceedings a little: auditions, announcements and the final concert will all be on one day. All proceeds will go to the Samaritans.

The awards are held in memory of Angela Carrington who was a fine musician and jazz singer. She took part in many London open mic sessions but, unbeknownst to even close friends, suffered from mental illness and took her own life on 20th May 2005. She was not a competitive person so the events are held to choose a representative of singers at open mic events here in London rather than a winner in the competitive sense.

I was delighted to be asked to be involved with this competition, as it brings together the thriving London open mic scene and heightens awareness for mental health charities.

Through running a monthly night with the Bob Stuckey Trio – Viva Vocals  (originally Vocals@Vortex) – for some years, I have got to know the real family feel of the London open mic scene, and how it brings so many of the community together. The supportive atmosphere of these nights is so wonderful to be a part of that I implore anyone thinking about getting into singing to have a go.

The Angela Carrington Awards give singers on the open mic scene the chance to perform to a panel of judges (professionals from the jazz industry) and gain valuable experience and feedback. Singers can take what they have learnt from open mic events and present it to the professionals in the industry whilst contributing to a great cause.

Singers audition with one song to the panel of judges and the three who are nominated, go on to sing three songs at a concert later that evening where a finalist is chosen. Also in this concert we have a featured artist doing a set and we are very excited to announce that this year it will be Kai Hoffman. The accompanist for these auditions will be pianist Dave Frankel. Dave and his trio will be the house band for the evening concert.

Audition entry £8. Sit in and watch the auditions £5 donation. Evening concert £12

Make a day of it at Brasserie Toulouse Lautrec 140 Newington Butts, Kennington, London SE11 4RN on Sunday 31st May. 

Bob Stuckey will be playing piano at the downstairs bar from 3-6pm where singers can sing around the piano whilst entertaining diners. Auditions are held upstairs in the Loft from 3pm onwards and the evening concert will start at 7:30pm. 

 LINKS: BOOKINGS  
Further details of this year’s competition
The 2014 Competition
Write-Up of the 2010 Awards