UAB’s Jalen Kirkman Wins National ‘Finding the Voices of Tomorrow’ Competition

By Shannon Thomason | UAB News University of Alabama at Birmingham junior Jalen Kirkman has been named the top vocalist from across the country in a national competition for young voices singing classic music. Kirkman, 20, won the “NextGen National: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow” contest presented by the American Pops Orchestra on Sunday, Feb. 11, at Lincoln Center. Kirkman was the first-place male winner and was awarded the Chip Hand Prize for Vocal Excellence, which carries a $10,000 award and performance opportunities with the American Pops Orchestra. Kirkman, from Florence, Alabama, is pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater from the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Theatre. The competition’s final 10 vocalists were chosen from 240 student submissions in 112 colleges. The 10 finalists received an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City and attended master classes and events and worked with professional artists, then performed at Lincoln Center for the final competition. Kirkman performed “Night Song” from “Golden Boy,” a Sammy Davis Jr. musical, and “Fascinating Rhythm” by Ella Fitzgerald. Four judges, along with the audience, voted for the winners. “We got to do a master class with Broadway legend Baayork Lee who was...