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Published August 20, 2008
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Orinda Idol Finalists in the House
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| By Emily Schultheis |
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| Orinda House Middle High Group Singers Photo provided |
The Orinda Idol finalists may not be on American Idol yet, but given their performances last Thursday night, they very well could end up on the popular T.V. show someday.
The evening of music, held at the Orinda House restaurant, featured performers from elementary school and performers from high school, singing numbers ranging from Kelly Clarkson to songs from Les Miserables.
Orinda Idol, which is in its third year, began when competition organizer Petra Michel became president of the Orinda Arts Council and decided to reenergize the council’s talent competitions.
“We used to have auditions with only five people, so I asked for permission to have a bigger event,” she said.
Michel organized the event the first year and this year along with Susan Garell. This is the first year that the competition was open to contestants from Lafayette and Moraga in addition to Orinda.
The competition for the finalist spots was tough. More than 200 Lamorinda students auditioned in May, and 5 students in grades K-2, 10 students in grades 3-5, 10 middle school students, 7 high school students and 10 groups were selected as finalists.
Some of the finalists have aspirations to become performers in the future. “I want to be a singer when I grow up, and this is like a mini American Idol,” said middle school finalist Isabelle Johannessen, adding that performing was “really fun.”
The evening was well-received by both parents and the finalists themselves. Georgia Belinsky, whose daughters Anastasia, 8, and Tatyana, 14, are finalists in the competition, said the performances were “fantastic.”
“It’s a great experience for everyone involved, and Orinda is a great town to do this in,” she continued.
The finalists will perform at Orinda House again on August 31st, and the Orinda Idol finals will be held in the Orinda Theater on September 7th. |
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| Anastasia Belinsky (age 8)
performs at Orinda House
Photo provided |
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| Reach Emily Schultheis at: info@lamorindaweekly.com |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA