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Meet the Top Twelve! |
The hopefuls first sang for two panels of judges in the Ketner Building of Catawba College. About 40 then moved on to a second phase, where 12 finalists were selected to vie this coming Saturday evening, April 28 for the $1000 grand prize. The competition begins in Keppel Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.
"We thought we'd be doing well if we found enough good singers for the finals," commented Catawba College Associate Professor of Music Dr. David Lee Fish, one of the preliminary judges. "Instead, it seemed that every singer we heard was better than the previous. We had a heck of a time narrowing it down to twelve finalists."
The twelve finalists are Liz Ballard, Adam Boyles, Eddie Burnham, Sara Culler, Rori Godsey, Mallory Honeycutt, Arika King, Paul Saylor, Brianna Smith, Deb Stokes, Shatericka Turman, and Virginia Williams.
One of the twelve will take home the $1000 grand prize, another will receive $500, and the third-place contestant will receive $250. The grand-prize winner will also hold the title of 2007 Salisbury Idol and will have an opportunity to record a song in Catawba College's state-of-the-art project studio.
Audience response will play a large role in crowning the 2007 Salisbury Idol, so everyone is invited to attend and cheer for a favorite finalist. The April 28 finals begin at 7:30 PM.
Salisbury Idol is a joint production of the Catawba College chapters of Pi Sigma Epsilon (the National Professional Business Marketing Fraternity) and the Music and Entertainment Industry Students Association (MEISA) in partnership with the Catawba College Community Music program.
Judges for the April 28 finals include Jimm Mosher and Alan Grossman of Spencer's Hit Music Incorporated, Charlotte radio and television personality Joey Popp, and Salisbury Post lifestyle reporter Sarah Hall. South African Rory Lewis will round out the judging team. "He's our Simon Cowell," adds Pam Thompson, chair of the Catawba School of Business and advisor to the college chapter of Pi Sigma Epsilon. "He's a natural."
As an added attraction for the April 28th finals, Mosher and Grossman as well as former Bad Company bassist Paul Cullen will join performing songwriter Derek Daisey onstage to perform several original works from his just-released debut album, All Behind Me. While still only a sophomore at Catawba College, Daisey has already received a great deal of interest from the music industry for his talents.
General admission to the April 28th finals of Salisbury Idol is $7 the night of the show. Each paid admission will be entered into a raffle to win two free tickets to hear Carolina roots rocker Bill Noonan on Thursday, May 3rd in Catawba's Hedrick Little Theatre.
For more information about Salisbury Idol, contact the Catawba College Department of Music at (704) 223-0372.
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