Music Student Selected as Finalist in Nationwide Scholarship Competition

Photo by Christopher MacRae

Kyle Forehand Performing at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center.

U of A music student Kyle Forehand has been selected as a finalist in the 2017 Kristin Lewis Foundation Scholarship Competition. Forehand was chosen to participate in the competition after an extensive selection process with submissions from students from all over the country. As one of the 15 finalists in the competition, Forehand will sing in front of a panel of judges consisting of singers from the Metropolitan Opera and world-renowned conductors in Little Rock, March 4-5.

Of the finalists, one singer will be eligible to receive an all expenses paid residency in Vienna, Austria. The residency will include one full week of vocal training, acting, and foreign language instruction in the Vienna State Opera. Additionally, four other finalists will be eligible to recieve scholarships for their professional pursuits. The Kristen Lewis Foundation awards these scholarships to young singers who demonstrate the potential for carerrs in opera performance. The Foundation was created in 2014 by Arkansas native and operatic soprano Kristin Lewis. 

Forehand is a vocal performance major studying with professor David Malis. Originally from Little Rock, Forehand first studied at the Crane School of Music in New York before transfering to the U of A. While in New York, he performed with Metropolitan Opera in both the chorus and in named roles. After his studies are complete at the U of A, he plans to continue his vocal career both nationally and internationally. This scholarship might be one of the first steps in helping him achieve that goal.