Teen Performs in Glenn Miller Birthplace Music Festival

From Beth Bosserman Curts:

The week after graduated from ’s International Baccalaureate program, she flew to Omaha, NE, and then drove to rural Clarinda, Iowa as an invited performer in the 37th annual Glenn Miller Birthplace Music Festival.

Giammattei, 18, was one of 10 vocal and 10 instrumental finalists of 120 high school seniors representing 33 states who auditioned to perform for awards totaling nearly $15,000 in prestigious Glenn Miller Scholarships June 7-9.

Giammattei auditioned with jazzy “Sway” against a backdrop of King High School’s Jazz Band. In Clarinda, she sang an original vocal work, “Fall,” for the festival audience and competition judge, and accompanied herself on the piano.

While she did not win the award, Giammattei made valuable music contacts as she heads to Barnard College at Columbia University in New York City this summer. She said she also enjoyed the opportunity to perform at the museum and other Clarinda venues, and auditioned on the same stage where Chris Mann, this year’s fourth place winner on NBC’s “The Voice,” was also a Glenn Miller Scholarship finalist in 2000 and 2001.

Other festival talent included Toronto’s All-Star Big Band, the fabulous Tamana, Japan Girls’ High School Band, and the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra with Julia Rich’s velvet Big Band vocals. All ensembles played audience favorites, such as “Moonlight Serenade” and “In the Mood,” thrilling 2012 festival-goers of all ages.

For more information, visit the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society online.