Keith Lockhart Announces Three POPSearch Finalists, all Competing to Sing with the Boston Pops
The Boston Pops’ POPSearch competition entered its final round of competition tonight as Keith Lockhart announced the three finalists: Lydia Harrell, Gisela Johnson, and Maria Perry. These three singers - selected from a nationwide talent pool - return to the Symphony Hall stage on June 28 to compete in the final round for the chance to sing with the Boston Pops on July 4, tour with “America’s Orchestra,” and win $5,000.
Videos of each POPSearch finalist will be posted at www.bostonpops.org, where music lovers across the country can vote for their favorite singer through June 28. More than 67,000 votes have been cast in total during this and the previous round of the competition.
In its third year, the Boston Pops’ POPSearch competition sought talented singers from across the country by accepting auditions via YouTube.com and mailed-in tapes, in addition to open auditions in Symphony Hall. Reflecting its place as “America’s Orchestra,” the Boston Pops received applications from Maine to California, from recent college grads to senior citizens, and in genres ranging from jazz to showtunes to country to pop. The three finalists come from Massachusetts and Missouri.
POPSearch 2007 Finalists
Lydia Harrell, Everett, Massachusetts; age 30
Auditioned through YouTube
Lydia Harrell studied voice, piano, clarinet, and percussion growing up and, upon entering college, began to focus exclusively on vocal training. She performed in musical theater productions and college singing competitions. Since moving to Boston in 1999, Lydia has performed with a variety of bands and musical projects, including Hyptonic, Kemp Harris, Doob, and No Static (a Steely Dan tribute). When Lydia is not singing, she is busy raising her 8 month-old son.
Gisela Johnson, Hyde Park, Massachusetts; age 32
Auditioned by mail-in tape
A native of Boston, Gisela Johnson is a singer, performer, actress, and vocal/performance coach. Gisela began singing at the age of 5 at the Morning Star Baptist Church in Boston where she continues to perform as soloist and as part of the choir. In addition, Gisela has performed in numerous singing competitions and at Mayoral charity events. She attended Berklee College of Music's Performance and Music Therapy
program and was also a semifinalist in the 2005 PopSearch Competition.
Maria Perry, Kansas City, Missouri; age 52
Auditioned through YouTube
Maria Perry grew up in Quincy Massachusetts. Ten years ago, Maria and her husband John moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she worked in customer service and HR management. Maria is now training to be a "Zumba" fitness instructor and hopes to encourage men and women over the age of 50 to stay fit and have fun.
More about the competition
