Positively Philadelphia: Alita Moses, Student Exemplar of Jazz
By Lauren Lipton
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- This may be the first time you've heard of jazz singer Alita Moses, but it definitely won't be the last.
She's a senior jazz vocal major at the University of the Arts, and recently won a major worldwide singing competition: the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition, in Switzerland.
She recalls the moments just before and after the winner's name was announced:
"I said, 'Oh my God, there's one place left and my name hasn't been called yet!' Like, even thinking about it gives me chills a little bit. My mom starts bawling her eyes out, and I was just nervous-laughing the whole time because I couldn't... I was seriously in shock, like I could not believe that I had won the whole competition. It was amazing, honestly."
Why did this West Hartford, Conn. native choose Philadelphia and the University of the Arts?
"It's the perfect-sized city," Moses tells Positively Philadelphia. "It's so diverse. Everyone is so different. Philly always had a special place in my heart from the get-go, so I definitely fell in love with it and decided to come here."
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And what's next for her?
"I definitely have a dream and a vision of someday being a touring artist. Going all over, being a recording artist and a performing artist, all at the same time. I want to make some sort of a difference in the world of music. "
Hear the extended interview with Alita Moses in this CBS Philly podcast (runs 8:33)...
And, for this week, that's "Positively Philadelphia!"
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