Top of the Pops

By Rachael Powles ’22, March 9, 2022

Two IC students compete in American Pops Orchestra 5th Annual NextGen National Competition.

Madison Hertel ’22 and Christian Burdick ’25 headshots

Madison Hertel ’22 and Christian Burdick ’25 both excelled in the American Pops Orchestra’s NextGen National Competition.

(Photos submitted)

Two students in the Department of Theatre Arts, Madison Hertel ’22 and Christian Burdick ’25, recently competed in the American Pops Orchestra’s (APO) 5th Annual NextGen National Competition, “Finding the Voices of Tomorrow.”

NextGen is a part of the APO’s mission to preserve classic American music for future generations. The contest requires participants to submit a recording of themselves performing a pre-1970s American song.

Burdick advanced to the semifinals, and Hertel was one of 10 singers selected for the finals. For the finals, she will perform live at Lincoln Center on March 20, with the full American Pops Orchestra. From there, a male and female winner will be selected for the grand prize of $2,000 and a paid opportunity to perform with the APO.

“I’m not used to singing pre-1970s pieces, so it was interesting to explore music I didn’t know as well beforehand. I blindly sent it in, with no way of knowing where it would take me.”

Christian Burdick ’25

Both Hertel and Burdick heard about the competition from their voice teachers.

“I’m always looking for opportunities, so when I saw the email, I went straight to a practice room,” said Burdick, who for his semifinals piece sang “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers. “I’m not used to singing pre-1970s pieces, so it was interesting to explore music I didn’t know as well beforehand. I blindly sent it in, with no way of knowing where it would take me.”

Burdick sang the classic “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers.

Audition submissions were judged by Broadway actor Aisha Jackson, U.S. Navy Band member Cory Parker, Metropolitan Opera soprano Brittany Renee Robinson, and Broadway choreographer Tara Strong. The semifinalists were announced a few days later.

“I didn’t tell many people when I got into the semi-finals, but slowly I started telling my friends and family, and was so surprised by how supportive people were, even people I hadn’t seen in a long time,” said Hertel, who sang “This Ole House” by Stuart Hamblen. “It was so heartening to have so much support from people from so many different periods of my life.”

Hertl’s rendition of “This Ole House” by Stuart Hamblen won over the judges.

Burdick and Hertel were invited to a Zoom masterclass with Luke Fraizer, the conductor of the American Pops Orchestra. They were given notes and tactics to improve before recording new songs for a broadcast on January 29th. They also worked with a professional videographer to improve their abilities to record self-taped auditions. Both Hertel and Burdick praised the skills they learned at Ithaca College for helping them advance to this point.

“I feel like the strong conservatory style training we get [at Ithaca College], whether it’s acting or singing or dancing or script analysis, has intertwined and helped me get to this point. I felt very prepared going into this.”

Madison Hertel ’22

Ithaca College is known for acting,” said Hertel. “When you walk into a room as an Ithaca student, everyone knows acting is your superpower. I feel like the strong conservatory style training we get here, whether it’s acting or singing or dancing or script analysis, has intertwined and helped me get to this point. I felt very prepared going into this.”

Burdick agreed, “All my professors have played such a big role in getting me where I am now. My voice teacher [associate professor of music performance] Mark Webster especially has totally transformed my voice in just one semester of college, and I would not be here without him.”

Before her journey to Lincoln Center, Hertel will star as Alison in ICTA’s upcoming production of the musical “Fun Home” and is collaborating on a dance project with assistant professor of theatre arts Aimee Rials that focuses on LGBTQ stories from the American South. This summer, she plans to perform at The Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, N.Y., before moving to start her acting career in New York City.

“I’m trying to soak up as many educational opportunities as I can,” said Hertel. “This is not the end of my training, and I want to absorb it all.”

Xan Hopkins '24 contributed reporting to this story.