“I just hope that while sharing my gifts, I’m able to brighten somebody’s day,” says Westfield High School senior Jacob Cintron, who just had the opportunity of a lifetime this summer, having the prestigious honor of being one of the 40 finalists nationwide to take part in the American Songbook Academy.
For Cintron, it wasn’t until seventh grade that he realized his true love for music when he was put in the elective course of choir instead of the Spanish class he had chosen. And through that course, it would unleash a passion and his talent for music.
“I got duped into doing choir, but it was one of the greatest decisions of my life to stay with it because ever since then, I’ve just seen so much improvement and I’ve built so many different connections over the past few years,” says Cintron.
Through a deep connection and passion for music came a desire to expand and grow his talent, which included taking part in the jazz ensemble group, Signature Sound, and playing the character of Gomez Addams in last year’s musical production of The Addams Family at Westfield High School.
This summer, Cintron was one of the 40 finalists who got to participate in the weeklong Songbook Academy, a goal he had since friend and fellow WHS alum Journee Woodley participated in the program last year.
“I heard about Songbook last year because one of my friends, Journee Woodley, participated in the program. Just hearing about it from her and seeing the program and everybody perform at the concert really lured me into it. So, I was super excited being chosen as one of the 40 finalists because this is something that I had been thinking about since I saw the concert last year, and just seeing something that I’ve been really wishing for become a reality was super exciting for me and meant a lot,” says Cintron.
The weeklong Songbook Academy brings together 40 of the nation’s most talented young singers to Carmel to learn and work with award-winning music industry stars, professional vocal coaches and music educators, along with learning about the timeless jazz standards, show tunes and popular songs of America’s Golden Age of the 1920s to the 1950s that encompass the Great American Songbook.
“The experience was so amazing. You meet so many different people from across the nation, and it becomes like a family. Even though it’s a week, you spend so much time with each other, and you really learn from each other. The staff is amazing, you’re surrounded by a bunch of professionals who have a lot of experience in the music industry and knowledge of the Great American Songbook. And being able to learn and take notes from all the mentors, the guest mentors, the vocal coaches and being able to have the connection where they’re there for you and they’re there to support you through this process was really valuable for me, and it just made the experience super amazing,” says Cintron.
Cintron, with the Songbook Academy, got to work with and learn from top music industry professionals, including his team medley’s music director, Kate Skinner, and vocal coach (Melvin) Brandon Logan, as well as Michael Feinstein, the creator of the program.
Cintron’s team medley’s theme for the Songbook Academy in Concert showcase was about the four different elements of fire, water, earth and air, with Cintron’s specific song being “Singin’ in the Rain.” Cintron also made the top eight for his solo performance of “For All We Know” by J. Fred Coots and Sam M. Lewis, which he also performed at the Songbook Academy in Concert.
“During our big group number, we had Michael Feinstein, who founded the program, sing a medley of Irving Berlin’s songs with us, and hearing him onstage and seeing that in person was just super awesome. When I did the public master class with Michael, I feel like he gave some really valuable notes for me. He’s very experienced; he knows a lot about the Great American Songbook and about storytelling, so being able to learn from him firsthand was amazing,” says Cintron.
To watch Jacob Cintron’s performances during Songbook Academy in Concert, the recorded livestream version is available online at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelFeinsteinOfficial/videos/2262855674490525. Cintron’s solo performance of “For All We Know” is at 1:09:44, and his team medley showcase is at 2:20:40.
Cintron will be entering his senior year at Westfield High School and will be returning for his third year in the jazz ensemble, Signature Sound. Looking toward the future, Cintron hopes to pursue music in some capacity.
