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Meet the Top 10: Suburban Chicago's Got Talent finalists vie for the top prize

Which of the top 10 finalists will win Suburban Chicago's Got Talent for 2018? Will it be a solo artist or one of five rocking bands?

All will be revealed at the finale, which starts at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Little Italy Fest-West. Each of the acts will perform one last time at Addison's Centennial Park, hoping to impress the panel of judges and win over the outdoor audience before the winners are announced.

At stake is the grand prize, which includes a Development Package (custom video, website development, mentor and photo session), a trip for two to either Nashville or Cleveland, a headline concert and an opening act slot for a national act at Schaumburg's Septemberfest on Saturday, Sept. 1.

Also to be announced is the competition's Fan Favorite, chosen by online voters following the top 15 round at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles last weekend. The Fan Favorite prize package features a $200 gift certificate to the music store Chords in Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale, plus a performance at Club Arcada and other gift certificates. Videos of the finalists performing at the Arcada can be viewed at dailyherald.com/entertainment/talent.

Suburban Chicago's Got Talent is a summer talent competition in its seventh season. For 2018, the contest is co-sponsored by the Daily Herald, Onesti Entertainment, Amita Health, Zeigler Auto Group, Salon Lorrene and the village of Schaumburg.

Tommy Bravos

Hometowns: Jeremy Benshish of South Elgin, Tommy Bravos of St. Charles, center, and St. Louis native Ryan Donlin

Talent: band

Challenges as a performer: The biggest and ongoing challenge is finding a style that fits my entire being. My musical taste changes from time to time, and I notice that who I listen to affects how I write. I've made a great stride in the past two years combining all my musical interests into a stage presence and style that fits who I am as a person - what I enjoy listening to the most and how I want to be perceived as an artist. Of course this is a challenge that will never end as I continue to grow as a performer and person.

Johnny Don't from Aurora is a top 10 finalist of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent. Photo by Mark Black

Johnny Don't

Hometown: Aurora

Talent: vocalist/songwriter/funny guy

Challenges as a performer: Myself. I am my biggest challenge in almost every way. I'm my own worst critic: can't get my ego out of the way too much of the time in too many situations, can't stop obsessing over a song or recording, worried that it's not good enough, etc.

Morgan Etnyre of Elgin is a top 10 finalist of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent. Photo by Mark Black

Morgan Etnyre

Hometown: Elgin

Talent: singer

Challenges as a performer: The most difficult time for me was when my band broke up.

Ghostille from Chicago is a top 10 finalist of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent. Photo by Mark Black

Ghostille

Hometown: Tommy Rey, Donnie Love and Allen Win of Chicago

Talent: rock band

Challenges as performers: One challenge I have faced through the years is coordinating the band itself. Three to five people and their busy schedules can be a headache to maintain, and must be done even before we get to work on the fun part.

The Geneva band LiveWire is a 2018 Suburban Chicago's Got Talent top 10 finalist. Photo by Mark Black

LiveWire

Hometown: Jake D of Plainfield, Alex Cappelli of Geneva, Nikko Viejon of North Aurora and Danny Cappelli of Geneva

Talent: rock band

Challenges as performers: (from Nikko): As a vocalist, dealing with my voice changing has been a challenge.

Michael McInereny of La Grange is a top 10 finalist of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent. Photo by Mark Black

Michael McInerney

Hometown: La Grange

Talent: blues singer-songwriter

Challenges as a performer: I've struggled with ADHD since I was a little kid, which made it hard for me to focus on things that didn't interest me. However when I started playing music, I found I was able to put all my energy into one thing. I sing, play guitar, play harmonica and try to be entertaining on stage, so maybe I've just learned how to make my ADHD work for me.

Shannon Nugent of Arlington Heights is a top 10 finalist of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent. Photo by Mark Black

Shannon Nugent

Hometown: Arlington Heights

Talent: singer-songwriter/pianist

Challenges as a performer: The biggest challenge I have had with pursuing music up to this point has been time. I graduated from Elmhurst College in only three years, and I immediately went to graduate school. Now that I am done with school, and I've been working full-time for a while, I feel like I have the time again to pursue my passion for music. I've realized recently how important it is to maintain your passion no matter where life takes you.

Leo Sclamberg of Highland Park is a top 10 finalist of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent. Photo by Mark Black

Leo Sclamberg

Hometown: Highland Park

Talent: singer/guitarist

Challenges as a performer: My biggest challenge as a performer is writing lyrics to music I've composed. It could be because I'm 14 and don't have enough life experiences to write about yet.

The band Seasalt is a top 10 finalist for Suburban Chicago's Got Talent in 2018. Photo by Mark Black

Seasalt</a3>

Hometowns: Jon O'Brien of Richmond, Drew Zaremba of Richmond, Becky Sargeant of Woodstock and Kayla Seeber of Poplar Grove

Talent: indie rock band

Challenges as performers: A challenge that Seasalt has had as a band is finding time in between school, work, life in general to rehearse for gigs. But compromises and sacrifices made for the greater good of the band are what keep us afloat.

Watchtower

Hometowns: Jason Sreniawski of St. Charles, Chloe Weidl of St. Charles, Josh Freehill of Bartlett, Bredia Santoro of Plainfield, Daniel Brozek of Streamwood and Christian Freehill of Bartlett

Talent: rock band

Challenges as performers: When it comes to forming a band, playing and sounding good is the easy part - as long as you have good musicians who are willing to learn their parts. But as someone who's been a part of many different music groups, I find it more difficult to make sure that everyone gets along and is able to make decisions for the better of the band as a whole. When the band can't decide on what to play, or who plays what, or when to rehearse, nothing gets done.

• • •

Suburban Chicago's Got Talent

Top 10 show and finale: 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at Little Italy Fest-West at Centennial Park, Lake Street at Rohlwing Road, Addison

Admission: Free; more information at events.dailyherald.com

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Top 10 judges

Carl Giammarese: A founding member and lead guitarist and vocalist of The Buckinghams. Starting in 1965, The Buckinghams were an important part of creating the sounds of American rock music after the British invasion had changed everything.

Bobby Poynton: A magical voice of the legendary Vocal Hall of Fame group, The Lettermen (1990-1995 and from 2011 to the present), and previously with The Crew Cuts (1998-2000) and The Diamonds (2001-2011).

Ron Onesti: President and CEO of Onesti Entertainment Corporation, which runs the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles and outdoor concerts and festivals throughout the area.

Barbara Vitello: A Lisagor Award-winning reporter, the Daily Herald's principal theater critic and legal affairs writer.

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