Student Stars Sought for FIRST NIGHT PITTSBURGH SING-OFF, Dec. 31

Equitable Gas Company is searching for musically talented students to audition for the company's second vocal competition celebrating the New Year. The EQUITABLE GAS SING-OFF is part of the upcoming 2012 First Night® Pittsburgh, a production of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and continues the company's commitment to opening opportunities for young people in greater Pittsburgh.

Similar to a number of talent shows currently popular on television, students from grades 6 through 12 who are affiliated with a middle or high school in Southwestern Pennsylvania may submit a video audition performance of a song that conveys the spirit of the New Year. Individual students and groups of 20 or fewer should upload a video up to 5 minutes in length to YouTube, then submit it to the contest. Additional contest information and the entry form are available on the First Night® Pittsburgh website, firstnightpgh.org. The application deadline is November 11, 2011.

"Equitable Gas is proud to sponsor the Equitable Gas Sing-off, a competition for young people to showcase their musical talents on New Year's Eve", said Bill Lucas, Executive Vice President of Equitable Gas "Once again, we are pleased to sponsor some of the key family-friendly activities of First Night Pittsburgh and support The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in its annual presentation of this premier holiday event."

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Equitable Gas will select up to five finalists, and the community will be invited to vote on these five submissions. The popular vote will be held online from November 12 - 19, and will help to determine the winner. Award winners will perform live as the opening act for the Equitable Gas Marquee Performances at the Benedum Center during First Night® Pittsburgh. In addition, the winner will also receive a cash prize of $500, compliments of Equitable Gas Company. Finally, winners will receive complimentary First Night® Pittsburgh admission buttons to enjoy the numerous activities that night.

"First Night is a great forum for expressing and celebrating the vitality and youthfulness of our city through the arts. We're thrilled to continue this new tradition of showcasing the talented students of our region and are grateful to Equitable Gas for their dedication to infusing energy into the Cultural District" said Darcy Kucenic, Director of First Night Pittsburgh and Manager of Education & Operations for The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. "The Equitable Gas Sing-Off is a perfect complement to First Night Pittsburgh, powerfully depicting celebration, resolution, community and hope through song."

In 2010, Equitable Gas and The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust hosted the first Sing-off event and Nicoletta Giacchino, a senior from FranklinRegional High School, won the competition.

A production of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, First Night® Pittsburgh is a unique, family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration focused on the arts. Held in more than 200 cities worldwide, the festival is a wonderful way to bring in the New Year in an uplifting, alcohol-free atmosphere. Centered in the Cultural District, First Night® Pittsburgh is a joyous celebration of the arts, featuring everything from children's activities to performances by nationally-known musicians to installations by local artists and a spectacular fireworks finale. First Night® Pittsburgh is a licensee of First Night® USA, the national association of community-based New Year's Eve arts festivals.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh's 14-block Cultural District through public and private support. The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the District, and is an impetus for additional development in downtown Pittsburgh.

Equitable Gas Company is a provider of safe and dependable natural gas service to approximately 275,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers located mainly in the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Its customer base also includes more than 200 municipalities in nine other counties in western Pennsylvania, 12 counties in central and northern West Virginia, and nine counties in eastern Kentucky. Additional information about Equitable Gas can be obtained through its website at www.equitablegas.com.

Amy Strycula has lived in Pittsburgh, PA for more than 25 years and has witnessed first-hand the amazing cultivation and growth of the city's now-expansive cultural scene. Amy spent many years as a freelance entertainment photographer during the 1980s and 1990s, with an emphasis on country music, covering everyone from Dolly Parton to The Grateful Dead. In recent years, inspired by her daughter Alex, a talented New York city theatre major, Amy has shifted her interests to theatre of all genres and attends productions in Pittsburgh as well as in New York City on frequent basis. Amy is excited to be able to share news, reviews and photo coverage of the cultural and theatrical happenings around Pittsburgh on Broadwayworld.com!

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