Nedra Kay                                                             

Two champions have been crowned in North Carolina to head for all-expense paid trip to NYC for an official audition on        September 27th at the                                     World Famous APOLLO Theatre on        125th Street, Harlem U.S.A

Earlier this month, Joshau Ham was crowned the Children’s champion and last night in a thrilling competition Nedra Kay took the title…..As part of their winnings, these two individuals will get an event-sponsored trip to NYC and a guaranteed audition by Amateur Night Live.  The world famous Apollo Theatre in New York has agreed to recognize and to endorse the Durham, NC based Next Level Veteran Outreach Campus Treatment Center event by accepting the finalist of the “Amateur Night at the Hayti” talent show. The Apollo Theatre organization and Next Level Veteran Outreach organization support our U.S. retired soldiers and are excited about this fundraising effort to increase services.

                                                 Captain Newborn                                                        Looking back…The shows and auditions were held at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, NC, 804 Fayetteville Street. Performances started on March 29, 2014 and ran through August 24,2014. Competitors were from North Carolina and across the Southeastern United States and audience was from all over indeed very lively.  The competition was intense and hundreds of people auditioned and performed! Each week winners were selected and some weeks had “tied” decisions by the audience.

At the finale there were over 20 well-promoted contestants performing.  North Carolina is well know for its historic and current professional music talent. “Most of these acts are ready now for “big time” recording contracts”, says  Captain Newborn, Executive Director of Next Level Veterans Outreach Campus and the Senior Producer of Amateur Night at The Hayti.

                                                   Timmy Richardson                                                    One of our children acts has already been picked up and signed by Tyler Perry. It’s that level of competition that people will saw on stage last night. Plans are being made for Season Two of Amateur Night. The dates and location will be announced at a future time.

More about “Amateur Night at the Hayti”

“Amateur Night at the Hayti” is duplicating the culture and style of Amateur Night at the Apollo by including a live band, and a dancing “Sandman.” Contestant’s fate are left up to the audience to decide. The competition event has attracted some high quality acts that include a nine year old with a voice like Whitney Houston, boy bands and gospel singers.

With the success of national talent shows like American Idol and The X Factor, The Apollo recognizes that there is a lot of talent in NC. “We feel this will give the public something to be excited about and it will be lots of fun for our veterans” says Captain Newborn, Executive Director of Next Level Vets who developed the talent search as a creative treatment modality for veterans with high stress levels. Sponsors for “Amateur Night at the Hayti” include Radio One, The Triangle Tribune, Our House Home Care, Best Buy, The Carolina Times, FS Productions, and Haggard Recording Studio. If your company would like to be a sponsor please call 919-323-6920.

About Next Level Veterans Outreach Campus Treatment Center Next Level Veterans Outreach Campus Treatment Center is a 501c3 nationally accredited medical and mental health veteran treatment center specializing in traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention, military sexual trauma and peer support. Next Level Veterans provides an array of free comprehensive mental health services, peer support and comradeship for veterans and their families in the Triangle and the state of NC.

About The Apollo Theater

Located in Harlem NY, The Apollo Theater is a national treasurer and a historical site performance hall that has impacted the popularity of African American culture and music around the world. The first Amateur Night at the Apollo was held in 1934 during the height of segregation. Since its inception, countless American icons received their start on the Apollo stage to include Michael Jackson, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn and Bill Cosby.

About the Hayti Heritage Center & Performance Hall

The Hayti Heritage Center opened in 1975 in Durham NC. The Center is a cultural enrichment and arts education facility that promotes cultural understanding through diverse events, activities and programs that preserve the heritage and embrace the experiences of Americans of African descent. The center includes a well preserved sanctuary that was remodeled to use as a performance hall. The Performance Hall flanked with chandeliers, stained glass and a beautiful hardwood floor stage, has served as a platform for legendary performers and icons visiting Durham that include Roy Ayers, Tom Browne, Melba Moore, Jean Carne, Norman Connors and Chuck Davis.

Next Level Veterans Outreach Campus Treatment Center   Contact: Captain Newborn  919-323-6920 or  cnewborn@nextlevelas.com

Webpage: HYPERLINK “http://www.nextlevelvets.com” http://www.nextlevelvets.com

Reflections of Apollo Talent

https://www.apollotheater.org/

Coming soon – Excerpt Photo Album by Angela Holloway, Groovetrak Special Event Photographer