And the winner is

Paul Norfleet, Newport News

Finalists

• Diane Griffiths
• Josh Jordan
• Jennifer Lawyer
• Brian Morris
• Paul Norfleet
• Krista O'Connell
• Jonathan Regier
• Nate Sacks
• Nance Schwegler
• Seth Stainback

Photography by Drew Landman.

Tidewater Arts Outreach is pleased to announce that Paul Norfleet of Newport News was selected the winner of the Emerging Artist Showcase during the Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival. Norfleet performed two original songs during the competition between local singer/songwriters.

The festival received more than 40 submissions of original work for the Emerging Artist Showcase. The top 10 semifinalists were invited to perform live on Saturday evening at 37th & Zen in Norfolk. Three finalists were picked by the judges to perform a second song. Norfleet was named the winner of the competition to a full house of festival friends and followers. He will be invited to be interviewed by Hunter Hughes on Hunter at Sunrise (WHRV HD3) and Paul Shugrue on Out of the Box (WHRV FM 89.5). He will also receive a consultation and booking with Stephanie Lyons of More Music Group, and will appear at Tidewater Friends of Folk Music’s songwriters night.

The top ten finalists are Diane Griffiths (Newport News), Josh Jordan (Norfolk), Jennifer Lawyer (Virginia Beach), Brian Morris (Virginia Beach), Paul Norfleet (Newport News), Krista O’Connell (Virginia Beach), Josh Regler (Virginia Beach), Nate Sacks (Norfolk), Nance Schwegler (Norfolk), and Seth Stainback (Virginia Beach).

“The Emerging Artist Showcase was a highlight of the festival,” says MaryAnn Toboz, executive director of Tidewater Arts Outreach. “The talent in the room on Saturday was phenomenal. It was a very tough competition, and it was so exciting to see such high caliber singer/songwriters in the region.”

Proceeds from the event and the Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival support Tidewater Arts Outreach. Event sponsors include WalMart, BOB FM, 96X, US106.1, WNIS and WTAR; Office Furniture Outlet; Old Point National Bank; TowneBank, Brydges, Geroe, Rosenblatt and O’Brien; and the Ghent Business Association.

Tidewater Arts Outreach is a nonprofit organization founded in 2003 to bring music and arts to hospitals, retirement homes, rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters and other facilities throughout Hampton Roads.  These performances and programs promote human interaction, happiness and healing for people who have limited access to the arts due to health, economic or social circumstances. In 2009, more than 5,300 people were reached through 230 Tidewater Arts Outreach programs. Tidewater Arts Outreach supports the spirit of empathy and caring in the music and arts community, and more than 237 artists have participated in its programs.  For more info, visit TWartsoutreach.org.