Itasca teen in Aurora Talent Competition
AURORA – The Fourth Annual Teen Talent Show and Competition sponsored by Aurora Public Library's Teen Librarians is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Copley Theatre in downtown Aurora. The event is free and open to the public.
Returning to perform at the competition will be last year's winner, dancer Brittany Austin of Fort Worth, Texas. Austin, formerly of Aurora, spent time in Las Vegas and New York this summer as a “Pulse Protégé.” (The Pulse Protégé program is an opportunity for dancers to train with world-renowned choreographers for a year.) Beginning in November, she will travel with The Pulse tour throughout the United States and possibly Tokyo and London.
Also this summer, Austin taped a commercial for dancewear maker Ivivva Athletica in New York, performed at Disney World and participated in the Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive in Chicago.
Sixteen-year-old Jacob Metoyer, of Itasca, has entered the competition for the second year in a row. He will be performing John Mayer's "Gravity." Metoyer said he enjoyed the banter between radio personality co-hosts Ty Bentli and Scotty Kay (also known as Special K.)
Although Bentli has other commitments this year, Kay will host and engage in some banter with his pal Bentli through the magic of technology.
Metoyer has won two Chicagoland talent competitions. This year, he auditioned for the television reality shows “American Idol” and “The Voice.” Although he said won't be on either show this year, he intends to keep trying.
Another 2011 contestant who is back is Kristin Rios of North Aurora, who is going into ninth grade at Aurora Central Catholic High School this fall. She will accompany herself on guitar.
Shannon Scott of Aurora also was in last year's competition. She just completed eighth grade at Washington Middle School and will accompany herself on guitar in the competition.
Maggie Perez of Aurora is going into the 10th grade at West Aurora High School. A first-time performer in the library's teen talent show, she sang Colbie Caillat's “Bubbly” as her audition piece.
The duo of Melody Fisher Lewek, 14, of Batavia, on piano and Baili Martin, 17, of Aurora, on vocals, performed “Die in your Arms” by Justin Bieber for their audition. Both girls attend Rosary High School.
The trio of Sarah Jane Butler, Alex Butler and Ashley Santos-Rodriguez will perform as “My Final Rejection.” Sarah will be a 10th grader at West Aurora High School; Ashley will be an 11th grader at Batavia High School; and Alex will attend Waubonsee Community College in the fall. All three will play guitar, with Sarah providing vocals.
Andrew Seimer, a 16-year-old student at West Aurora High School, plays electric guitar. He auditioned with the song “Angel.”
Sheridan Archbold of Yorkville, who is a home-schooled seventh-grader, enjoys singing in his church choir. He auditioned with “Nessun Dorma” from the Puccini opera “Turandot.”
There will be five judges this year, including three Teen Advisory Board members (one from the Main Library, one from the West Branch, and one from the Eola Road Branch).
The two special guest judges are: Adam Michaels, who played “Woof” in The Paramount Theatre's production of “Hair,” and rocked the Copley Theatre stage in his role in “Route 66” this summer; and Stephen Edwards, who leads the choral ensembles of Windy City Performing Arts and is the director of music and worship at Community United Methodist Church in Naperville, where he conducts three choirs. Edwards has sung with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Grant Park Symphony Chorus. He also serves as the associate director of With One Voice, a chorus that partners with charitable organizations to bring awareness and support to their causes.
The Copley Theatre is located in North Island Center, directly across Galena Boulevard from the Paramount Theatre.