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NextGen National

9th Annual NextGen National

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Show Program
Auditions Open on Sept 1

NextGen National: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow is a vocal competition created by the American Pops Orchestra that gives collegiate vocalists the opportunity to learn from industry professionals while competing for a chance to win scholarship money and paid performance opportunities with APO. And this year, we’re celebrating our 9th Annual NextGen!

  • Win cash prizes and perform for a live audience
  • Finalists win a free trip to NYC to perform at Lincoln Center
  • Finalists participate in Masterclasses and Rehearsals with leading Broadway Actors
  • Win performance opportunities with The APO - possibly for National Broadcast

The 10 NextGen Finalists win an all-expenses paid trip to New York City, rehearse with Luke Frazier and members of the APO, participate in masterclasses led by Broadway Icons, and perform live at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. Since launching the competition 9 years ago, many of our previous NextGen Finalists have gone on to lead successful careers in Broadway, Television, National Tours and much more.
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Submit your audition today! If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email: ashley@theamericanpops.org

History of NextGen

Founded in 2018, our NextGen competition began with students from five DC-area universities and has now expanded to include students from across the United States and Canada.

NextGen strives to provide opportunities to each and every student who wishes to participate; there is absolutely no cost to compete. In addition, APO provides free masterclasses about performing, recording, and working in the music industry, among other topics, led by industry leaders. Competitors also receive accompaniment tracks and custom arrangements free of charge.

APO is proud to award the Chip Hand Prize for Vocal Excellence to the first-place male vocalist. Made possible by the generous support of Ambassador Lloyd and Ann Hand, the prize memorializes their beloved son who was an acclaimed musician and recording artist. The annual presentation of the award allows Chip’s legacy to live on through young, aspiring performers.

Past Winners

2025

watch the recording

2024

  • Chip Hand Prize for Vocal Excellence
    Jalen Kirkman
  • First Place Female Winner
    Jantanies Thomas
  • Second Place Male Winner
    Noah Van Ess
  • Second Place Female Winner
    Jayna Glynn

2023

  • Chip Hand Prize for Vocal Excellence
    Chris Richie
  • First Place Female Winner
    Mya Hunter
  • Second Place Male Winner
    David Mejia
  • Second Place Female Winner
    Jayna Glynn

2022

  • Chip Hand Prize for Vocal Excellence
    Ethan Hardy Benson
  • First Place Female Winner
    Audri Bartholomew
  • Second Place Male Winner
    Franco Valerga
  • Second Place Female Winner
    Mya Hunter

2021

  • Chip Hand Prize for Vocal Excellence
    Noah Canales
  • First Place Female Winner
    Maya Sistruck
  • Second Place Male Winner
    Edward Ferran
  • Second Place Female Winners
    Madison Russell
    Deepa Johnny

2020

  • Chip Hand Prize for Vocal Excellence
    Zac Doss
  • First Place Female Winner
    Alexa Joseph
  • Second Place Male Winner
    Brody Grant
  • First Place Female Winner
    Rashonda Bentley

2019

  • Chip Hand Prize for Vocal Excellence
    Jose Mangual
  • First Place Female Winner
    Rita Castagna
  • Second Place Male Winner
    Kodiak Thompson
  • Second Place Female Winner
    Ally Dods

2018

  • First Place Male Winner
    Evan LaChance
  • First Place Female Winner
    Nia Savoy
  • Second Place Male Winner
    Paul Roeckell
  • Second Place Female Winner
    Abby Middleton
Copyright 2025 : The American Pops Orchestra. All rights reserved
Website: CHISHOLM DESIGNS

A Message from The APO

The American Pops Orchestra has made it a priority to not only maintain Pre-COVID content in a virtual form, but also create new content to keep our audience engaged and our musicians employed.  As an organization that strives to break the mold of concerts, we are using COVID-19 to reimagine our normal operations.  Since March we have streamed two full original concerts, created solo performances by instrumentalist and vocalists, rethought our Music and Mindfulness series as a more often and virtual event, and partnered with organizations across the country in our virtual trivia series.  
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In addition, APO has held multiple in-person socially distanced outdoor Porch Concerts that provide our audience with the opportunity to safely see live art despite the current situation around us.  Throughout the pandemic, APO has employed hundreds of musicians and artists and in a time when many other organizations couldn’t. In the words of Maestro Luke Frazier, “we never stopped.”
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Moving forward, APO is proud to present our NextGen National vocal competition which will include students from across the country competing virtually for the chance to win a monetary prize and the opportunity to perform in a future APO MainStage Show. This will include a virtual audition and semi-finals with a live (COVID permitting) finals in Spring of 2021.  APO has also filmed multiple productions that will be broadcast nationally on PBS.  APO has been grateful to keep creating and making music despite the limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will keep working to bring you, our valued audience, original and unique content.
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To support APO as we keep moving forward you can click here, so that we can continue to employ more artists and musicians.  If you have any questions about what APO has been doing during the pandemic, please email hannah@theamericanpops.org. Thank you and stay safe.