3rd Annual
First Night Idol Competition
Alex Benishek, 2008 First Night Idol
Congratulations to Alex Benishek,
Dixie Riddle, 1st Runner Up and Tyler Barham,
2nd Runner Up.
Subway, Cherry Creek Radio and the Flagship Program have joined First Night Missoula to produce the 3rd annual First Night Idol contest--an entertaining competition made popular by the TV show “American Idol.”
The final round of the competition will be held in the Historic Wilma Theater at 7:30 pm on New Year's Eve as part of the First Night celebration, with a guest performance by last year's First Night Idol, Jerilynn Valentine. This year's winner, as well as receiving prizes and the title, will help lead the countdown to midnight with the Ed Norton Big Band at the First Night Grand Finale in the University Center Ballroom.
The competition is open to Missoula area High School Students.
Jerilyn Valentine
First Night Idol, 2007
Jerilyn is currently a Bio-Chem major at Seattle Pacific University. She graduated from Sentinel High School as a valedictorian in 2007, after winning the First Night Idol competition during last year's First Night Missoula celebration. Jerilyn was cast as Eponine in the MCT production of Les Miserables. She sings the National Anthem at many of our community events. She has considered it a privilege to participate in the First Night Idol Competition for the past two years.
Be sure to see Jerilyn sing this year on New Year's eve at the Wilma as she salutes this year's winner!
|
2008
Hellgate High School Finalists |
Dixie Riddle
Dixie was raised in the Missoula valley and is presently a senior at Hellgate High School. She is honored to have grown
up on the Missoula Children's Theatre stage and is ever thankful for
the training and family she has built there. She loves
journalism, creative writing, dance, snowboarding, music and theatre. Dixie wishes to dedicate
her performance to her extraordinary family and friends who have
always supported her and pushed her in every aspect of life.
Morgan Schutte
Morgan Schutte is a senior at Hellgate High School. When she is not singing or acting she enjoys dance, soccer and track. Morgan also plays the piano and has decided to attempt guitar. In her free time she is usually running around with her friends, writting music, or relaxing with her family. Most recently Morgan's time has been spent working on producing an album for her senior project with the help of mentor, Eden Atwood. Next year, Morgan will be attending Wake Forest University, in North Carolina.
Liza Ginnings
Liza Ginnings grew up in Missoula. Her father is a musician, and music has been a big part of her life with family and friends. Liza has studied voice with Alicia Bullock-Muth and attended an opera camp last summer in Pocatello, Idaho. She is also a Chevalier with the Hellgate honors choir.
|
| Boys & Girls Club Finalist |
Tyler Barham
Tyler is a senior at Florence-Carlton High School and enjoy sports such as Basketball and Bowling. Hunting and Fishing are also two of his favorite hobbies, but Singing is Tyler's ultimate passion. He auditioned for American Idol in Seattle in October of 2007, competed in a talent show in Wyoming six years in a row, and also competed in the Colgate Country Showdown here in Missoula.Tyler has a youtube page to get feedback and exposure and plans to attend UM next year.
|
| Big Sky High School Finalists |
Katie Griffith
Katie Griffith is a junior at Big Sky High School. She enjoys Volleyball season, and participates in Drama class and Aeserian choir.
Amanda Winn
Amanda Winn is a junior at Big Sky High School. She wakes up at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the Sky Blues extra curricular choir before school. She likes to spend free time with family and friends watching movies or playing Guitar Hero.
Amanda describes her younger self as a tomboy who still enjoyed a few girly things now and then. She took dance for six years and played dress up but still had the strong exterior. She has three brothers ranging from one to twenty-five. "They are my life!" she says. "Without my family I would not make it through the day."
|
| Sentinel High School Finalists |
Alex Benishek
Alex Benishek has been rapping for seven years and plans on doing it as his lifetime career. "I want to be famous and remembered for the music I make," he says. Rapping under the name Boi-Prata-G, Alex has opened shows for rappers such as E-40, Afro Man and the Ying Yang Twins. He has been featured on numerous songs with other Northwest artists and has released a CD, "Tha Album." He is signed to Dynasty Records and his self-made label Dawgclan Records. Alex will perform an original composition, "Naw Mean," in this year's Final Competition. myspace.com/boipratag
Hannah Keane
Hannah Keane has lived in Missoula most of her life. She attended Lewis and Clark and Washington schools and also spent one year in Idaho and six months in Australia. The original Hannah Montana, she loves singing "Before He Cheats" because this is the song she and her friends blast in the car and sing as loud as they can.
Julia Neaves
Julia Neaves is a 16-year-old Junior from Sentinel High School. Julia’s passions are singing, dancing, reading, shopping, and doing her AP homework (actually, that last part isn’t true, but she does maintain high honor roll.) Most evenings Julia can be found studying for a test, or practicing for debate team, Spartaniers, or her next piano recital. Julia chose to sing “Raining Men” because she loves the upbeat tempo and the opportunities to use her own vocal improvisations. Julia would like to dedicate her performance to all of her friends and family in the audience, but especially to her mother Candice and her special guest TNT. |
|
Master of Ceremonies: STAR FM's Danny D!
Danny D! began working as a deejay for a roller skating rink in Great Falls and never thought it would lead him to the career he enjoys so much today. As a sophomore in high school, Danny D! worked weekends for a radio station called K99. After only a few months, he was given the opportunity to host a contemporary Christian show called ‘The Light.’ It was his first show and after only a short period of time, ‘The Light’ become the number one show in Great Falls on Sunday mornings.
Danny D! attended the University of Montana and worked as the afternoon announcer on StarFM in Missoula until 2003 when he was offered a position as station manager for The Zone in Billings. Today, Danny D! is back on the radio waves in Missoula and is the station manager and morning host for StarFM. www.dannydradio.com
|
Panel of Judges
|
Elton Anderson
A native of Miami Florida, Mr. Anderson studied classical piano and classical Ballet. At the age of fifteen he was invited to join the Miami Ballet Company. Mr. Anderson received a scholarship to the renowned “SAB,” the school for the New York City Ballet, and went on to pursue an international modeling career. Anderson arrived in Missoula in 2004 with his sister Anita and has opened a studio devoted to educating clients in etiquette. Etiquette has always been an integral part of Mr. Anderson’s life as a result of his broad exposure to diversity in other countries and cultures. Mr. Anderson is on the board for the Montana Rep. and the Missoula Symphony. He believes art is crucial to the development of imagination and imagination is crucial to life. |
Adrienne Dussault
Born and raised in Missoula, Adrienne majored in voice/piano at the University of Montana. She continued her studies at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, sang with the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, and was an apprentice with Seattle Opera for four years.
Adrienne went on to enjoy a diverse musical career for many years, living in Seattle, New York City, Florida, and California, appearing in opera, musical theatre, and as a soloist with many symphonies. She has traveled extensively while performing her one-woman cabaret show in night-clubs, for conventions, in the “Borscht Belt”, and on many cruise ships.
She has appeared most recently in “Jacques Brel” and “Mame” at MCT; but one of her most rewarding roles has been as a volunteer for over 12 years with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
|
Deserae Pollock
With a degree from the Art Institute of Portland and ten years experience as a professional model, Deserae Pollock, started Jules Model and Talent Agency right here in Missoula! Jules fills a niche in Montana, providing businesses with professional, affordable talent and photography for advertising production or special events. Clients experience high-fashion photo shoots, as well as gain education and coaching regarding nutrition, exercise and overall health. The Agency believes true beauty radiates from the inside out. www.julestalent.com |
|
