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  First Idol named

    By Maggie Rhynes
    IV Leader Staff

    There was a small crowd, but the voices were big at Illinois Valley Community College’s first IVCC Idol contest.  Ashley Stevenson was voted the winner by the audience after surviving three rounds of elimination and wowing the crowd with her talent.
     Eight contestants vied for the title of IVCC Idol, with two contestants being eliminated after the first round and four eliminated after a second round.  First round eliminations were decided by the panel of judges, Norm Engstrom, Megan Zomboracz and Don Grant Zellmer.  The second round of eliminations was decided by the judges and the audience and the final winner was a decision made solely by audience members.
     Performances ranged from oldies like “I Will Survive,” performed by Gabrielle Green to “That’s Amore,” belted out by Phil Claudnic.  Following each performance, contestants were critiqued by the judges not only on singing, but also on stage presence, costume choice and dancing.
    While the judges avoiding taking on a “Simon Cowle” personae, they didn’t hesitate to point out flaws or areas of improvement to the contestants.
    They even harassed the eventual winner about a reoccurring gesture, saying they were concerned she had appendicitis she was holding her side so often. After the next few rounds, the judges declared the gesture Stevenson’s signature move.
    While many of the performances drew praise from the audience and judges alike, only three contests survived to the final round.
 Rebecca Gatlin, Bee Adana and Stevenson each took the stage a third and final time before the deciding votes were cast.
    Gatlin, a 23-year-old IVCC student from Cedar Point the contest was a way for her to release energy. Gatlin has been singing for years and has 8 years of formal training, making her no stranger to the stage. “Nervousness wasn’t an issue, although, I have to admit that being scrutinized by a judging panel gave me a bit of a queasy feeling.”
    She also saw the competition as a good opportunity to gain exposure, “I saw the contest as an opportunity to be recognized by the community as someone who is goal-oriented and optimistic about their musical talents. I figured that it might grant me adequate visibility within the community and among the students and faculty of IVCC to ensure that I would have more opportunities offered to me as a growing musical performer. It’s a stepping stone…I’m no American Idol, but you just never know if you’ll see me next season!”
    Adana, a 23-year-old Connecticut native said he too has been singing as long as he can remember.
    Adana said his training has come from choir and theatre classes.
    He too enjoyed the experience of IVCC Idol. “I wish I won.” he joked. “On the real, they should have more of those. And invite more ladies!”
     In addition to being named IVCC first idol, Stevenson received a $100 gift certificate to the Peru Mall.
     Other contestants included Jamie Meyer, Peter Hamilton and Renee Lapa.  The event was sponsored by Students of the Performing Arts and Music Organization (SPAMO).

 

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