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Lady Sings the Blues

A Baltimore tradition turns 18 this year: the annual Billie Holiday Vocal Competition, presented by Mayor Sheila Dixon and promoted by the city’s Office of Promotion & the Arts in honor of the jazz icon. The competition is part of Artscape, the mid-Atlantic region’s largest celebration of the arts, which is marking its 26th year. Ten semifinalists, chosen from applicants from Maryland, Delaware, D.C., and parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania, will perform at this free concert July 21 from noon to 3 p.m. in the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. Cash prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners, as well as a People’s Choice award of $500 to the contestant selected by the audience. New this year, the winner will perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on (not Gloomy) Sunday, July 22. And they can’t take that away. For more information about Artscape or the Billie Holiday Vocal Competition, call 877-BALTIMORE or visit artscape.org.

With her band playing in the background, Billie Holiday sings “Fine and Mellow.”

PHOTO: CORBIS