St. Charles teen wins Schaumburg Idol

Jamie Dowat was just an infant when the first American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, became an overnight sensation.

Dowat, 15, of St. Charles recently experienced her own thrill of winning a 12-person singing competition when she was named the 2016 Schaumburg Idol.

"This experience and all that's come with it is something I will never forget," Dowat said during the Schaumburg Idol finale. "I'm very grateful for this opportunity."

Schaumburg Idol, the park district's annual search for the next singing superstar, reached its final round earlier this summer with performances by Dowat and Clarissa Consoli.

The pair beat out 10 other contestants before going head to head performing songs selected by both themselves and the judges.

For the Idol finale, Dowat performed Plumb's "Need you Now." Consoli sang Elton John's "Your Song."

"Schaumburg Idol was a lot more work than I expected," said Consoli, 15, of Roselle. "It was very new for me, but also a great learning experience because I'm not used to singing pop songs."

Contestants advanced according to the highest combined votes from judges and the community. The judges take singing ability, performance level, difficulty of song and progression throughout rounds into consideration.

This season's judges included: Beth Waller, cultural arts supervisor; Carole Bryan, music coordinator; Andrew Norte, music educator; and Erica Zafiriou-Perez, music industry expert/

"Jamie really listened to the feedback from the judges," Waller said. "She was willing to grow and step outside her comfort zone as a performer."

As part of the Idol process, contestants also have a chance to work with and receive feedback from professional musicians. Dowat's prizes include a three-hour recording session to create her own demo CD.

Set to return to St. Charles East High School as a sophomore this fall, Dowat wants to work in the entertainment industry either in acting, modeling or singing.

An accomplished performer, Dowat plays cello in the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra and recently traveled to Scotland and Ireland with the Anima Touring Chorus in Glen Ellyn.

Although American Idol ended its 14-year run in April, Schaumburg Idol has become a local tradition that Waller hopes will continue for years to come. She already is making preparations for a 10th anniversary Schaumburg Idol reunion in 2018 that may include 120 singers from past seasons.

For information, visit www.parkfun.com.

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