Local Idol Audition Draws Contestants
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| Brianne Mullen displays her ticket to the semifinals with mom Tammy Mullen, friend Cassandra Losaw and little sister Brooklyn. |
"I came here 'cause I really like to sing," said the "Hannah Montana" fan as she waited nervously outside the judging room at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Church Street Center. She'd picked the song "See You Again" by "Montana" star Miley Cyrus to wow the judges. "I watch her show all the time."
It worked. Brianne's 30-second a cappela version was good enough to rate a bump into the next round of the three-year-old local singing competition.
Some 50 or so aspiring and veteran warblers showed up to serenade the panel of judges on Saturday morning; most walked away with an invitation to return for the semifinal round on March 8.
Another 60 had already registered to audition on Saturday, Feb. 2, in Pittsfield.
<L2>"This is more people than last year," said event organizer Joelle Brookner. "This is our third year. I think the word is getting out. We're really excited about it."
The competition raises funds for local charities; this year, it's the Family Life Support Center's Louison House, a local shelter for women and families.
It costs $20 to audition and, if selected, the contestant has to raise at least $100 in pledges for the next round. "You don't have to raise just $100," Brookner told one competitor. "You can raise lots and lots."
Charity may make out but the singers were there to prove they had the pipes to make it to the top.
Two rockers from Bennington, Vt., headed south after they heard about the contest, which offers $1,000 U.S. savings bond and four hours of professional studio time at Skyboro Sound toward a demo CD for the winners.
Nicki Skipper, vocals and bass for punk rock band Bitch Kitty, convinced fellow singer Cindy Legge of the band Invisible George to try out.<R3>
"We're the middle-aged contingent," said the spiky-haired Skipper, 43. Legge, 54, called it "representing the big kids."
Both had classics ready: Skipper was doing the Beatles "You Really Got A Hold On Me" while Legge selected Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams" for range.
Range is important to the judges, said Legge and she proceeded to demonstrate her ability to hit notes high and low to the appreciative panel of Brad Martin, Wendy Walraven and Marissa Carlson.
Needless to say, both women scored a golden ticket and congratulations from some their fellow band members who had tagged along.
<L4>The voice of Mike Woods, 20, was powerful enough to be heard out in the hallway. Woods, sporting a Bob Marley T-shirt, said he had a passion for reggae and so, of course, was planning to sing a Marley tune.
"My dad talked me into doing this," said the Adams resident who, when he's not singing, works at Wild Oats Community Market in Williamstown. Woods also walked away with a golden invitation.
There were screams of delight as singers hustled down the stairs waving their golden tickets to waiting family and friends. For a few, the experience was a little disappointing.
Eleven-year-old Jaye Scheider of Williamstown loves to sing and plays the guitar and flute. But the judges thought she was little too nervous and stiff, she said as as one of the event volunteers comforted her after she walked out without a ticket. Jaye vowed to practice and try again next year.
Those selected now have to chose another song and get the music ready on a CD. They'll perform on March 8 and six from each of the two age categories (10-15; 16 and older) will be selected to compete in the finals.<R5>
Along with singing prizes, those raising the most for charity will receive one week at Vacation Village, a $1,400 value; second prize is an iPod and third is a karaoke machine.
There's still time to tryout. Online applications are being accepted at Berkshire Idol until midnight Thursday for the next round of auditions at the Crowne Plaza from 10 to noon on Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome but the audition fee is $25.
