The Red and Black

Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Variety

Media Credit: KRISTIN BOYD Anne Marie Aycock, a second-year graduate student from Social Circle, auditions for UGA Idol at the Tate Center Tuesday. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: KRISTIN BOYD CONTESTANTS INTERVIEWED [Click to enlarge]

Unchained melodies were unleashed and wanna-be Aguileras and McBrides belted it out as the UGA Idol auditions were held Tuesday at the Tate Theater.

About 130 students came to flaunt their vocal skills and vie for a spot among the 10-12 semi-finalists that will be selected for the show in February.

"We have a wide variety of students," said Brad Erbesfield, a UGA Idol student coordinator and a senior from Atlanta. "It's a show for everybody and not a popularity contest. It's about the best talent you got."

The contestants were required to sing two songs of differing genres in front of two judges.

The judges were Christopher Cannon and Jody Feldman, associate producer and musical director of Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.

"This has been great," Cannon said. "We're not going to be struggling to find the show."

Unlike American Idol, Cannon and Feldman gave no open critiques for contestants.

Nevertheless, the contestants' attitudes outside ranged from the "fairly confident" to the "nervous as hell."

"You have to go into a room where people are going to critique you, and that's always hard," said Crystal Yang, one of the contestants.

Sponsored by UGA Hillel, Sigma Delta Tau and the Music Business Program, the proceeds from UGA Idol will benefit Prevent Child Abuse America.

The first place winner of the show receives $500 and will move on to the statewide competition, Campus SuperStar in Atlanta, where there is the potential to earn $5,000.

However, before the champagne kisses and caviar dreams, there are always callbacks. A lucky few will be notified by this afternoon whether they have what it takes to be the next UGA Idol.

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