Carolinian

Issue date: 11/7/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: JERRY ARNOLD/THE CAROLINIAN Anxious contestants await their chance to showcase their talents for UNCG Idol.

It's not quite American Idol, but it is pretty close with the extremely talented, the talented and the not-so-talented. That's right - UNCG Idol is here on campus.

Thirty-four UNCG students signed in, lined up, waited and finally auditioned competing for one of the 10 places in the final contest. Twelve students were eliminated while 22 went on to the second round of auditions held last Friday afternoon.

The singing event, which is hosted by the Department of Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Management offers students an opportunity to get involved in campus activities while gaining skills and experience. The event is primarily a student-run event with a crew of approximately 30 students planning, organising and producing the event.

Erica Crutch, Executive Director says, "It is also an opportunity for the tourism management hospitality students to plan an event and prepare them for further career choices."

The students who come from a wide range of academic areas such as history, early childhood education and music, stood in front of three judges and sung a solo piece of their own choice without any music. Songs chosen varied from "I Heard it Through the Grape Vine" by CCR, to Madonna's "Like a Prayer," and Christian songs.

Many of the participants went into the audition feeling butterflies in their stomachs while others were confident and ready to show what they had to the judges.

"I'm nervous, I haven't really done anything like this before," said Sharon Brown, a Biology student at UNCG.

Students stood outside the room waiting for their turn listening to the previous contestant sing, cheering for them as they returned, some with smiles and some with disappointment.

"Yeah I think I did pretty well, I perform all the time so I was feeling good about that," commented Brittany Adams, a junior at UNCG.

The judges for the auditions were faculty members within the RTH department at UNCG and all have a passion for music and singing themselves. However, the final judges on the night will be Dr. Stuart Schleien, a professor of RTH and department head, along with Dr. Jan Van Dyke, professor of Dance and department head. The third judge is yet to be confirmed, but organisers are hoping for a professor within the School of Music.

Continued...

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