16 Selected for Berkshire Idol Finale

By Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
05:11PM / Saturday, January 24, 2009

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Emcee Jonathon Secor checks in with contestants queued for the stage.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Chrissy Haskell had tried to make the cut for Berkshire Idol before without success.

"I guess last year I was forgettable," said the 22-year-old North Adams resident. "I just stood by the microphone."

Not so this year, as Haskell's powerful rendition of Mariah Carey's "Vision of Love" prompted the audience at the Church Street Center on Saturday to burst into applause as she sent those high notes soaring.

Her reward was to be called out as the first finalist in the 16 and older category for the Berkshire Idol finale in March. Even sweeter, little brother Brandon Haskell, 10 years her junior, made it into the younger division. "We love to sing together," said Haskell, as Brandon nodded in agreement.

Finalists

Finalists named in the junior category. Finalists named in the adult category.

The siblings will vie with 14 other contestants for a chance at studio time, cash and Savings Bonds on March 14 when this year's Idol winner will be announced.

The contest benefits local charities and community organizations. Semi-finalists have to raise at least $100 in donations and top fundraisers will receive prizes, including one week at Vacation Village (a $1,400 value), an iPod and a karaoke machine. In he past, the Berkshire Idol has raised more than $20,000. This year, proceeds will go to the nonprofit Windsor School of Music in North Adams.

Banner photo: siblings Chrissy and Brandon Haskell show off their Idol tickets. Top: Raven Ocasio, left, Arantha Farrow and Rebecca DeCola; middle, judges Betsy Reali, Beth Keplinger and Jaime Choquette.

The winner in the 16-to-adult category will receive $1,000 and four hours of studio time at Skyboro Sound. The winner of the younger age category will receive a $1,000 savings bond ($500 cash value) and four hours of studio time at Skyboro Sound.

Some contestants at the center, on the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts campus, seemed more worried about getting through the day's performance, never mind making it to the finale.

"I'm going to the miss the last note, I know it ... I'm scared," said Tabitha Dick of Pittsfield, adding she might have to throw up. "You're not going to throw up," ordered her friend Caroline Whitman, who was also taking the stage.

The Reid Middle School students made it through their songs, but not to the final eight.

Fourteen-year-old Ashley Volff of Adams made it to finals for the second time, having placed in 2007. After belting out Martina McBride's "Anyway," she was worried she'd overdone it. "I think I was too loud," she said.

But mom Ann Volff assured her the microphone had toned her down, otherwise "You'd have blown out everyone's eardrums," she joked.


The competition went faster this year with fewer contestants than 2008's 70-odd singers. But while there was less music, the audience's appreciation of the talent on stage didn't seem the least diminished. The applause was loud and frequent, often breaking into the performances for a particularly well sung stanza, held note or entertaining move.

Todd Hamilton, aka "the Lunchbox," broke up his rendition of rock tune "Kryptonite" by twice running through the aisles, microphone in hand. Hannah Rose Woods, 10, of Clarksburg drew laughter singing — and at times acting out — Kristin Chenoweth's "Taylor the Latte Boy."

In addition to raising funds for local causes, Berkshire Idol has become an opportunity for amateur and professional singers to show their range and talent.

"What a great experience this is," said Jessica Perrault, 23, of Adams, as she waited downstairs from the center's mainstage. "You get to meet a lot of people."

"It's a great place to show your talent," said Brian Isaac, a Pioneer Valley emigre who settled in Adams last year. The artist and photographer was singing "You Light Up My Life," a tune he'd last performed at age 7.

A few years had gone by since then, he admitted. "I really just want to share my music."

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