Advertise
With Us

Click here to request more information.
OC Family reaches:

• Active & educated parents
• Growing families
• And more...

Editor's Blog

Gotta sing? The OC ICON solo vocal talent qualifying auditions are this Saturday at The Shoppes at Chino Hills By Susan BelknappPublished: June, 2010

Print This Article Email This Article RSS Subscribe

“American Idol” announced this week that they were lowering the age requirement for the competition from 16 to 15, which is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. Not that younger singers don’t have the aspiration or ability, but all we heard last season was, “You don’t know who you are as an artist,” as they were berated for bad song choices. Of course, they were forced to pull from a decades-dusty songbook for antiquated theme nights. That’s a different story from another time though. However, if you know a someone with singing chops who is between 7 and 18, the qualifying rounds of the second annual OC ICON solo vocal challenge are being held this weekend at The Shoppes at Chino Hills this Saturday, June 26 at 10 a.m. The competition is open to youth age 7 to 18. The competition is produced by WBZB Entertainment and offers young singers the opportunity to receive feedback from experienced judges, as well as public performance opportunities and a chance to qualify for the semi-finals, on their way to – hopefully – the finals. I do think this is very cool because I am an advocate in the arts and love when people of every age fearlessly pursue their dreams. This is a great platform in which to hone young talent before an attempt to step onto an international stage. The one thing that I took issue with on the ninth season of "Idol" was the lack of performance preparation of the contestants of all ages. Regional competitions like this are a great way to build that experience.   I also am familiar with the work done by ICON Performing Arts Academy of Southern California and I think it is a great idea for young vocalists to get professional training, particularly if they have raw, natural talent. Even a gifted performer needs stage experience, confidence and technical training. In the finals, the top three competitors will receive a prize package valued between $5,000 and $10,000 designed to help them launch their careers in musical performance. The qualifying rounds will narrow down contestants to roughly 50 to 75 in each age bracket who will perform on stage in front of an audience at the semifinals. Ten finalists will be chosen from each age division. The finalists perform at a concert event on Saturday, Sept. 11 at t the Barclay Theater in Irvine. Three winners selected from among the finalists will each receive: • A trophy • A professional head-shot package • Vocal coaching sessions provided by ICON Performing Arts Academy of Southern California • Two songs professionally recorded • An original song written and produced for or with the artist • A music video produced for their original song. Register online at ocicon.com.  There is a one-time registration fee of $35. PREVIOUS POSTS 6-16-10 Garden Grove’s Hyatt Regency Orange County 6-2-10 Shining Students 6-9-10 Working Moms 5-24-10 Camp Fire centennial 5-17-10 What do you want to be? 5-10-10 Happy Mother's Day 4-30-10 Brazilian Blowout 4-21-10 A thing of beauty 4-8-10 All-Star Fan Fest 3-24-10 Power of story 3-17-10 Baby beat 3-2-10 O.C. Camp Fair 2-25-10 Prevailing value of EVERY mom 2-19-10 I interrupt this blog ... 2-15-10 Shining Students nominations 2-10-10 Anaheim Ducks take flight 2-5-10 'It Takes a Village' Redux 2-1-10 A new day

SEARCH THE SITE