FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contacts: MaryAnn Toboz MaryAnn@TWartsOutreach.org 757-965-5155

Tanya Kaish Keller, PR liaison janesofalltrades@hotmail.com

757-618-3655

Tidewater Arts Outreach Announces 10 Finalists in Emerging Artist Contest to Play Attucks on April 12

Paul Shugrue to receive festival’s Beacon Award at Sea Level finale event Norfolk, Va. – (April 1, 2014) – Entries for the Tidewater Arts Outreach 7th annual Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Emerging Artist Contest have been reviewed, and it’s time for one of the top 10 to be voted this year’s “Emerging Artist” on Saturday, April 12 at the Attucks Theatre, 1010 Church St, Norfolk. The winner will appear live on radio shows, Out of the Box on WHRV FM 89.5, Hunter at Sunrise on WHRV HD3, perform on WAVY TV 10’s Hampton Roads Show and perform at Hampton Bay Days Festival in September 2014. He or she will also receive a 10–hour recording session from SoniQual Studio and photography studio services from JPixx and Jim Knox Photography. The 10 Emerging Artist finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

• Alice Conner - Virginia Beach • Dustin Furlow- Virginia Beach • John "BJ" Griffin – Virginia Beach • Stephan Lazar- Norfolk • Logan Layman - Williamsburg • Jared May – Newport News • Kelsie McNair - Norfolk • Roy Moats – Newport News • Richard Moss – Newport News • Dan Pellegrino - Norfolk

These finalists will face a panel of three judges including Jeff Maisey (VEER Magazine) Paul Shugrue (WHRV), and Hunter Hughes (WHRV). “This contest is a great way for us to show the community the tremendous talent we have right here in Hampton Roads,” says Tidewater Arts Outreach (TAO) executive director MaryAnn Toboz. “We are excited for their performances and to give the winner this new opportunity at a music career.”

Contest judge Paul Shugrue, host of WHRV’s weeknight evening music show “Out of the Box,” has been named the recipient of the 2014 Beacon Award. The Beacon Award, given to celebrate the achievement of individuals and/or organizations in the community who have supported the Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival as well as the local music community, will be presented to Shugrue at the Attucks Theater during the Emerging Artist Showcase. About the Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival The Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival, now in its 7th year, is a three-day celebration of live, original music and art to benefit Tidewater Arts Outreach. In addition to the Emerging Artist Contest finale, the festival includes a headline kick-off concert featuring Grammy award-winning artist Shawn Colvin at the Naro Expanded Cinema on Thursday, April 10, and a concert to honor Hampton Roads military by national organization SongwritingWith:Soldiers at Nauticus Theater on April 11. The festival is the largest annual fundraiser for Tidewater Arts Outreach. Find out more at http://www.tidewaterartsoutreach.org/sea-level-singer-songwriter-festival/ About Tidewater Arts Outreach: Tidewater Arts Outreach is a nonprofit organization founded in 2003 to share the joy and healing power of the arts with people who have special needs and who are isolated from society. TAO presents educational workshops and dozens of programs each month in hospitals, retirement homes, rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters and other facilities throughout Hampton Roads. These performances and programs promote human interaction, intellectual stimulation, happiness and healing for people who have limited access to the arts due to health, economic or social circumstances. Last year, nearly 8,000 people were reached through 306 Tidewater Arts Outreach programs and workshops at 67 locations. Tidewater Arts Outreach supports the spirit of empathy and caring in the music and arts community, and hundreds of artists participate in its programs. For more information, visit TidewaterArtsOutreach.org or connect with us on Facebook.

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