Audience to pick town's first Idol
Seventeen area youths think they have the voice to earn the title of Mundelein Idol.
But it will be the audience that will decide Saturday night.
Hosted by Mundelein High School's show choir, the first Mundelein Idol will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the school auditorium.
Many of the competitors, open to ages 19 and younger, are Mundelein residents who will step onto a familiar stage to show off their solo talents.
Elizabeth Starck, who belongs to the high school show choir and Red Rose Children's Choir, is joining her first competition. But she said she's not nervous. She will be competing among many she knows and singing where she has been many times before.
"I will be really comfortable when I sing," said the Mundelein junior. "I don't get jitters anymore."
Among Mundelein residents also will be Ilianne Chavez, Molly O'Brien, Tina Miratello, Rachel Miller, Trina Trein, Michelle Krueger, Brian Urban and Elijah Jones.
Similar to the television show "American Idol," the audience will score the singers in each of several rounds. In each round, the lowest scoring performers will be eliminated until the official Mundelein Idol is crowned.
The first-place winner will get $500 and a trophy. Second place will earn $50, and third place will receive $25.
Starck has planned three country songs to wow the audience. They are "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts, "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack and "I Wonder" by Kellie Pickler.
"They are all inspirational songs. They all give a good message," she said.
Starck said while winning would be awesome, she said she plans more to enjoy the event with people she knows.
"Winning is not my main goal," she said. "It will be about having a good time."
While many of the contestants will perform to a hometown crowd, word got around about Mundelein's first singing contest. The event has attracted singers across Lake County and even Bartlett and into Wisconsin.
Nick Wells received encouragement from his honors choir director at Grayslake Central High School to enter Mundelein Idol as a chance to practice performing.
The 15-year-old Grayslake resident is taking the competition seriously, practicing his vocals and dance and looking over the lyrics every day, even though he adds he knows the songs well. He chose two songs, "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" and "Give me that" by Chris Brown, who he calls his biggest influence on his singing career. His third song will be "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5.
Wells stays confident he has what it takes to win first prize on Saturday. "I want everyone to say, 'he sang those pretty good,'" he said.
Contestants also will be Kailee Paschel of Genoa City, Wis., Jonathan Sricharmorn of Wauconda, Shealleigh Voitl of Bartlett, Amanda Dacks and Tyler Ankney of Lindenhurst, Gracie Williams of Waukegan and Blair Feldman of Gurnee.