After much preparation, more than 200 hopeful young performing artists, ranging in age from 5 to 18, came to the Orinda Idol 2009 Auditions at the Orinda Theatre on May 29 and 30 in hopes of becoming an Orinda Idol finalist. Forty-six finalists were selected in six groups, according to Orinda Idol chair Steve Harwood.
"The quality of all of those auditioning was very high," Harwood said. "But quite aside from the quality, how wonderful were these young people. Each of them had to put themselves on the line by deciding to audition. They had to memorize their song and work on their presentation, and then come into an empty room and give it their all before a panel of three judges. Each of them was energetic and enthusiastic. Personally, I was inspired."
President of an investment company by day, Harwood is a lifelong singer who currently sings with the Blackhawk Chorus, and who has written and directed musicals for Sleepy Hollow School. He and the other judges (Ralph Severson, Sue Farmer and Daphne Stoermer) invited finalists and runners-up to return for a feedback session a few days after the event.
"Most took advantage of the opportunity and appeared again with enthusiasm, and listened intently to the comments of the judges," Harwood said. "It would have been nice to give each of those audition feedback, but as it was, the feedback session lasted three hours."
In an email to all who auditioned, Harwood wrote: "If you can do this, you can do anything."
He added, "I think that might be rephrased to: 'If you can do this, why should you be phased by any of the challenges in your life?'"
The Orinda Idol 2009 Finals is scheduled for Sept. 13 at the Orinda Theatre. For more information, visit the Orinda Idol Web page at: http:/www.orindaartscouncil.org/
orindaidol.html.