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Selection begins for finalists of "New Girl Singer" contest
Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:13 PM EDT
The idea of hosting a "Girl Singer" contest was launched in June as part of a Top 10 Events series to build momentum in the months leading up to the concert featuring Michael Bolton, according to Abby Dobson of Lundy's Special Events which produces the concert each year.
The "New Girl Singer" is event number 9 in the series and according to Dobson, the woman selected will have a chance to showcase her talents as the opening number for the concert.
"She will open the show," Dobson said during an interview in June.
The event is being stage in conjunction with The Maysville Players in honor of Rosemary Clooney's 80th birthday and to mark the 10th anniversary of the concert.
Washington Opera House Executive Director Mike Thomas said Sunday, 26 entries were received for the contest which encouraged women from the age of 16 and up to compete for the spot. Applicants were required to live within a 70-mile radius of Maysville, submit a recorded DVD or CD performance of one song, which was not to exceed four minutes, in the style of Rosemary Clooney and/or featuring a performance from the Great American Songbook, including Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, etc.
The deadline for consideration was Aug. 11.
"I'm really impressed with the quality of vocals I've heard," Thomas said, noting the entrants were from Maysville, Mason County, Brooksville, Manchester, Lexington and Cincinnati.
Thomas said five judges, some from the local area and some from Lexington, will receive a CD with all 26 entries on it to judge the contestants.
"They (judges) received a blind ballot with just a number and title of the song....we've asked them to rank them one through six," Thomas said.
The top six finalists will be notified by telephone on Wednesday, Aug. 20 and will have just over three weeks to prepare for the final live judging on Friday, Sept. 12.
Thomas said a new panel of judges, none of whom will be from the local area, will be selected for the live performance. He also said the concept of allowing the audience to vote has been scratched, because organizers wanted to make the final judging "as fair and equitable as we could."
"I'm interested in who this town determines will be the next girl singer," Thomas said, explaining the judges are not looking for a Rosemary Clooney impersonator, but a singer who reflects Clooney's great vocals, gift of song, great personality and respect of lyrics.
The "New Girl Singer" finals will take place at the Washington Opera House at 116 West Second Street, in downtown Maysville on Friday, Sept. 12, 2008 at 8 p.m. Admission to the event is free of charge; reservations are not required.
Contact Marla Toncray at marla.toncray@lee.net or 606-564-9091 ext. 275.
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