Meet the Top 15 Suburban Chicago's Got Talent contestants
The remaining 15 Suburban Chicago's Got Talent contestants need to be very convincing in the next round of competition. The acts must impress the four judges and win over fans in the battle to move on.
The next live round of competition is 7 p.m. Sunday, July 17, at the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg. After the acts perform, the judges will weigh in. Then, videos of each performance will be uploaded online for the general public to vote on at dailyherald.com/entertainment/talent.
The online votes are vital, since they will help decide which act will be the Fan Favorite. At this stage of the competition, the contestant with the most Fan Favorite votes is automatically guaranteed a spot in the Top 10 - even if the judges had the act slated for elimination. And the act with the most cumulative online votes wins the Fan Favorite prize, which is an entertainment package with various gift cards from local restaurants, theaters and attractions valued at more than $600.
Ultimately, the judges will decide which of the final 10 Suburban Chicago's Got Talent contestants will win the top prize, which is known as a “STARTer Kit.” Valued at about $5,000, it includes the chance to open for a national headline act at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles and to perform at Schaumburg's Septemberfest, career mentoring by Onesti Entertainment and professional video and still photo shoots of a live performance and production.
The winners of both prizes will be announced after a free concert at the Taste of Arlington Heights on Saturday, Aug. 6.
For 2016, Suburban Chicago's Got Talent is co-sponsored by the Daily Herald, Onesti Entertainment, the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg, the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce, Amita Health, Valli Produce and Salon Lorrene.
Top 15 contestants
Annie Young Gospel Blues Band
Hometown: Annie Young from Elgin, Bill Crampton from Streamwood, Joe Misek from Algonquin
Talent: band
Biggest source of inspiration: Jesus Christ.
Brianne Cannataro
Hometown: Schaumburg
Talent: tap dance
Biggest source of inspiration: My dance teachers who support, coach and love me so that I can continue to learn, grow and be the best I can be.
Fenced In
Hometowns: Meghan and Caitlin Foley of Villa Park with Dominic Giase of Lombard
Talent: rock band
Biggest source of inspiration: Everything around us. We are inspired by our family, friends and everything happening around us.
Alex Guzman
Hometown: West Chicago
Talent: singer
Biggest source of inspiration: Well, I have been singing since the age of 6, so singing has always inspired me. I think being with my band and getting more exposure has definitely made me more comfortable on stage.
Sheridan Hurtig
Hometown: Mundelein
Talent: singer
Biggest source of inspiration: My mom inspires me every day to strive to be best and work my hardest as she is a single mom and supports me endlessly.
Ken Markovic
Hometown: Darien
Talent: singer-songwriter and guitarist
Biggest source of inspiration: Right now honestly it is my family. The last few years have been extremely difficult, and both of my parents, sister and extended family have been very supportive.
Rachel McPheeters
Hometown: DeKalb
Talent: singer
Biggest source of inspiration: My mother and I have always shared a love for singing and for all types music. She and my dad encouraged me as a little girl to perform for their friends. “Do some moves, Rach!” my dad would say. Since then, I've always been working on my moves. My husband is my biggest supporter as well, attending and encouraging me in any show I've ever done.
Nate Mitchell
Hometown: Lombard
Talent: singer
Biggest source of inspiration: My biggest inspirations are John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, James Bay and the situations that occur in my life.
Monk 9
Hometowns: Tom Repetny of Oak Lawn and Joe Kernan of Bellwood
Talent: band
Biggest source of inspiration: We performed with William Shatner at a charity event. He is an amazing man who has no fear and he can do anything.
Danny O'Brien
Hometown: Geneva
Talent: singer and guitarist
Biggest source of inspiration: My mom.
The Pack Drumline
Hometowns: Perry Mister of Aurora, among others
Talent: percussion band
Biggest source of inspiration: For us, every single time we have an opportunity to step on that stage we get inspired.
Rhea
Hometown: Richmond
Talent: singer and guitarist
Biggest source of inspiration: My younger sister, Darien, inspires me. She is smart, funny, friendly and a very talented drummer. She's 12 years old.
Garrett Ryan
Hometown: West Dundee
Talent: singer-songwriter
Biggest source of inspiration: My dad. His work ethic is something I've always looked up to and tried to mimic.
San Star Sandberg
Hometown: Geneva
Talent: singer
Biggest source of inspiration: My mom. She is my biggest fan. She always puts me first and supports all of my dreams. I could never thank her enough for all she has done for me.
Skyline Semblance
Hometowns: Rachel Frazier of Naperville, Adam Frazier of Naperville, Jake Frantz of Naperville, Kyle McComb of Joliet, Joia Nicholson of Glen Ellyn
Talent: acoustic/rock band
Rachel Frazier's biggest source of inspiration: The inspiration for my songwriting comes from just about anything and can happen at any time. Either I'll see a person walking down the street or I'll read something that gives me ideas for songs. It's very sporadic. The inspiration for how I perform my songs is directly related to what the song is about and how it makes me feel. I know that if I'm feeling passionately about my music, the audience will feel something too.
Sunday's Suburban Chicago's Got Talent judges
Ron Onesti: President and CEO of Onesti Entertainment Corporation, which runs the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles and produces outdoor concerts and festivals throughout the area.
Lisa Soukup: Dean of students at Prospect High School with a master's degree in film and literature from Northern Illinois University and a master's in educational leadership from Concordia College. Soukup was the technical director and stage director for the Rolling Meadows High School Theater Program.
Barbara Vitello: A Lisagor Award-winning writer, the Daily Herald's principal theater critic and legal affairs reporter.
Beth Waller: Cultural Arts Supervisor for the Schaumburg Park District.
Host
Rob Pileckis: The Chicago resident has hosted events like Screen Test Student Fest film festival, Summer Breeze concert series and the Schaumburg Youth Orchestra's “Presto!” holiday concerts. He's also conducted interviews onstage with celebrities like opera star Danielle de Niese and Robert Osborne from Turner Classic Movies. For his day job, Pileckis works as production supervisor at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts.
See the Top 15
Location: Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, (847) 895-3600 or
prairiecenter.orgShowtime: 7 p.m. Sunday, July 17Tickets: $10Upcoming show: Top 10 performances on Sunday, July 31Info: