Berkshire Idol Finalists Chosen
 |
Sixty-eight adults and children from around the region had won a coveted golden ticket at last month's audition, moving them into the semi-finalist round on Saturday. Eight contestants were selected from two age groups - those under age 16 and 16 and older - to head to the finals on March 29.
Cindy Legge and Nicki Skipper, friends from Bennington, Vt., had qualified in the last round and were eagerly awaiting the results for the adult competition on Saturday afternoon.
Legge, 54, of the band Invisible George, had sung Melissa Etheridge's "Come to My Window."
The competition had "moved very quickly," she said. "They seemed to be really well organized.
"Everybody was really good. We encouraged each other while we were waiting."
The younger contestants had sung first, then the adults in the afternoon, although some had spent the entire day at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Art's center. By 3:30, Skipper, 43, was ready to find out the results and get something to eat. "It's been a long day."
<L2>Clegge was more philosophical: "It's been a good experience, a really good time. ... Onward and upward."
Paul Hopkins was waiting to see how his 16-year-old daughter Rebecca had done. The Drury High School junior had hit a bump when they couldn't find a karaoke version of the song she'd chosen, "Hold Me Tight" by the Beatles. The song was recently featured in the film "Across the Universe."
"She had to sing a capella. We couldn't find a version anywhere," said Hopkins.
The singers had to perform without music in the first round of auditions. In the semi-finals, they were allowed to use a background mix on a CD. Skyboro Sound of North Adams, which is offering the winners studio time, operated the sound equipment on Saturday.
Finally, the long wait was over as Alex Daugherty appeared on stage to announce the winners to the screams of family and friends.
Skipper, of the band Bitch Kitty, was called to the stage, but not Clegge. "I'm still tired and hungry ... but excited to be in the finals," said Skipper.
Michael Wood of Adams, who tried out because of his father's encouragement, also was selected to compete in the finals. <R3>
"It was my birthday the other day, so this is really awesome," said the now 21-year-old reggae fan. "I can't wait for the finals."
The biggest applause (and screams) by far was for Kristina Clark of Adams and Stephanie Shurtleff of North Adams.
Clark had received a standing ovation, although she said she didn't notice.
"This is so exciting. I just moved to Adams six months ago," she said. Clark had been in a band in her former hometown of Auburn, and the members had been upset when she left, she said.
Once a year, she competes in a national singing contest in Nevada, so when Berkshire Idol came up she couldn't resist. "It was an opportunity to sing ... it makes me feel good."
The finalists in the children's division are: Mary Alice Wieland, 10; Noelle Walser, 14; Abigail Tague, 11; Tyra Nurmi, 12; Kristina Miller, 14; Noel Lugo, 4; Emily Lipinski, 13, and Rebecca Daniels, 14.
Adult finalists are Clark, Skipper, Shurtleff, Wood, Rosemary Blessing, Teddy Bourgeois, Shannon Lemieux and Joseph Sicotte.
The finalists will perform at Drury High School on Saturday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m. Residents will get to vote on their favorites, as well. Northern Berkshire Community Television Corp., which taped the event, will show all of the singers in the coming weeks and the finalists in the week leading up the final performance.
The finalists' performances will also be available on the Berkshire Idol Web site in the coming days.
The winners will receive a $1,000 savings bond and four hours of professional studio time at Skyboro Sound toward a demo CD. Along with singing prizes, those raising the most for charity will receive one week at Vacation Village, a $1,400 value; second prize is an iPod and third is a karaoke machine.
The competition raises funds for local charities; this year, it's the Family Life Support Center's Louison House, a local shelter for women and families.
