Fox Chapel teen wins singing awards

Shady Side Academy junior Sloane Simon won two voice awards in the 2022 YoungArts National Competition, receiving an honorable mention in the Voice/Popular (Pop) category and a merit award in the Voice/Singer-Songwriter category.

The YoungArts National Competition is open to artists ages 15–18 or in grades 10–12 in the United States, with award categories across 10 disciplines: classics, music, dance, design arts, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing.

Applications are judged by panels of artists, and awards are given at three levels: Merit, Honorable Mention and Finalist. Award winners at all levels receive cash prizes between $100 and $10,000, a medallion, a lifetime of creative and professional support, and access to a private, online portal for artists to connect, share their work and discover new opportunities.

In 2021, Simon of Fox Chapel competed on Season 19 of “American Idol” and has had more than 30 performances at regional events and venues, including singing the National Anthem at Heinz Field for the WPIAL 2A Football Championship on Nov. 26. She also has released three original songs on streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music.

At SSA, Simon is a varsity cheerleader and sings with the Senior School Jazz Combo.