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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."

 

alita moses photo2 _lipton
(Alita Moses, photographed outside the main entrance of the University of the Arts, at Broad and Pine Streets in Philadelphia. Photo by Lauren Lipton)

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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)...

Alita Moses

 

And, for this week, that's "Positively Philadelphia!"

"Positively Philadelphia" main page

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