By Steve Gilliam, University Relations
Top singers from around the country will be competing in the First Annual Charles A. Lynam Vocal Competition on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22-23.
The UNCG School of Music is holding the event to honor Lynam, who has been one of its faculty members for 41 years. Lynam received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Elon College and a master’s degree in music education from New York University.
His graduate study included work at Indiana University with Dorothy Mansky, Paul Matthen and Ralph Apelmann, as well as training with Hans Heinz at Juilliard and Erika Buchmann in Heidelberg, Germany.
The contest has two divisions: Artist Division (ages 24-40) and Scholarship Division (ages 18-23). Judges narrowed the applicants down to 22 semifinalists – 12 in the Artist Division and 10 in the Scholarship Division.
More than 100 singers entered from Canada and several states, including California, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
Performance times in the School of Music Recital Hall will be: Saturday, semifinals, starting at 11 a.m.; Sunday, noon, final round, and 7:30 p.m., winner’s concert, 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students. For tickets, call the box office at 334-4849.
The Artist Division offers $2,000 for first place, $1,250 for second place and $750 for third place. In the Scholarship Division, first- second- and third-place winners will receive $1,000, $750 and $500, respectively.
In addition to teaching, Lynam has performed extensively in recital, oratorio, opera and orchestral concerts throughout the United States, including appearances with the Chautauqua Opera Company; the Eastern Philharmonic; and the Charlotte and Greensboro symphony orchestras.
At UNCG, he was the recipient of an Alumni Teaching Excellence Award in 1979 and was named Teacher of the Year in the School of Music in 1999.
“Mr. Lynam has been on our faculty since 1964,” said David Holley, competition director. “He’s just been such an incredible influence in so many people’s lives, and there are many professional singers who studied with him as well as people who are teaching at universities that carry on his legacy.”
