Chautauqua Lake Idol Selects Five More Finalists
By NICHOLAS L. DEAN
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7/10/2007 - BEMUS POINT — With both preliminary rounds now completed, Chautauqua Lake Idol has its 10 finalists for 2007.
Of the 10 contestants who sang Monday night, Stephanie Blake, Aletha Walters, Michael Valvo, Been Blood and Jaala Fish were selected by judges to move forward to ''Disco Night'' on July 23.
''I'm just really happy to be doing this,'' said Blood, a Busti resident who works as a landscaper and describes himself as more of a bar band singer than anything else.
Not limited to one style, Blood said he is looking forward to competing in Chautauqua Lake Idol's upcoming theme nights.
''I'm not just about rock,'' Blood said after Monday night's show. ''My versatility hasn't been seen yet.''
Like Blood, Chautauqua Lake Idol's nine other finalists will display their range in two week's time when forced to sing disco songs as part of the competition's first of three theme nights. Joining last night's winners for ''Disco Night'' will be Andrea Bragg, Parris Williams, Rich Beatty, Lydia Marks and Ashleagh Suber — who won Idol's first preliminary round last week.
A regional vocal competition, Chautauqua Lake Idol was created and is organized each year by WWSE 93.3 FM, a Media One Group radio station. Bigger and better as each year goes by, Chautauqua Lake Idol is now in its fourth season and regularly draws thousands of people from throughout Western New York and Northeast Pennsylvania to its Monday night competitions. The competition feature many community partners and sponsors, including The Post-Journal.
''There's only one word to describe how I feel, and that's ecstatic,'' said Michael Valvo, a Kennedy native, after making the cut Monday night. ''It's just an honor. I'm an 'American Idol' fan all the way and to do this is kind of like being a part of that.''
Currently majoring in musical theatre at Fredonia State University, Valvo has performed at Sheas Performing Arts Center and has been involved with Little Theatre Musicals.
''I've sang at Jammers games and though the crowd can get pretty big sometimes, it's nothing like this,'' Valvo said of Chautauqua Lake Idol. ''The word to describe it is phenomenal.''
Echoing Valvo's sentiments, Aletha Walters, a Randolph native, said performing on The Floating Stage was ''a lot of fun'' and that she is looking forward to singing at all three theme nights.
Of the five contestants selected to move forward after last night's round of competition, Jaala Fish is a New Castle, Pennsylvania native who recently moved to Jamestown and Stephanie Blake is a Jamestown native who sings in the Bruce Peterson Blues Project, Midas and was involved in the 10,000 Maniacs 25th Anniversary tribute band.
Described as a ''tough choice'' by Andrew Hill, Media One Group program manager and host of the event, the four Chautauqua Lake Idol judges had to cut five of Monday night's 10 performers and in the end decided to eliminate Katie Jacobs, Jeff Sanders, Amanda Oleshak, Eric Schwob and Margaret Dickerson.
Chautauqua Lake Idol takes place on six Monday nights over the course of eight weeks.
With both preliminary rounds now completed, only four Mondays remain.
Following ''Disco Night'' on July 23 will be a ''Christmas in July'' event on July 30 and a ''Remember When ...'' theme night on Aug. 6. The final night of competition is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 20, where one winner will be chosen from three finalists.
Idol events begin at 6:30 p.m. and typically runs for two hours. For more information, visit ChautauquaLakeIdol.com or contact SE93 by calling 487-1151.
Send comments to ndean@post-journal.com.
Of the 10 contestants who sang Monday night, Stephanie Blake, Aletha Walters, Michael Valvo, Been Blood and Jaala Fish were selected by judges to move forward to ''Disco Night'' on July 23.
''I'm just really happy to be doing this,'' said Blood, a Busti resident who works as a landscaper and describes himself as more of a bar band singer than anything else.
Not limited to one style, Blood said he is looking forward to competing in Chautauqua Lake Idol's upcoming theme nights.
''I'm not just about rock,'' Blood said after Monday night's show. ''My versatility hasn't been seen yet.''
Like Blood, Chautauqua Lake Idol's nine other finalists will display their range in two week's time when forced to sing disco songs as part of the competition's first of three theme nights. Joining last night's winners for ''Disco Night'' will be Andrea Bragg, Parris Williams, Rich Beatty, Lydia Marks and Ashleagh Suber — who won Idol's first preliminary round last week.
A regional vocal competition, Chautauqua Lake Idol was created and is organized each year by WWSE 93.3 FM, a Media One Group radio station. Bigger and better as each year goes by, Chautauqua Lake Idol is now in its fourth season and regularly draws thousands of people from throughout Western New York and Northeast Pennsylvania to its Monday night competitions. The competition feature many community partners and sponsors, including The Post-Journal.
''There's only one word to describe how I feel, and that's ecstatic,'' said Michael Valvo, a Kennedy native, after making the cut Monday night. ''It's just an honor. I'm an 'American Idol' fan all the way and to do this is kind of like being a part of that.''
Currently majoring in musical theatre at Fredonia State University, Valvo has performed at Sheas Performing Arts Center and has been involved with Little Theatre Musicals.
''I've sang at Jammers games and though the crowd can get pretty big sometimes, it's nothing like this,'' Valvo said of Chautauqua Lake Idol. ''The word to describe it is phenomenal.''
Echoing Valvo's sentiments, Aletha Walters, a Randolph native, said performing on The Floating Stage was ''a lot of fun'' and that she is looking forward to singing at all three theme nights.
Of the five contestants selected to move forward after last night's round of competition, Jaala Fish is a New Castle, Pennsylvania native who recently moved to Jamestown and Stephanie Blake is a Jamestown native who sings in the Bruce Peterson Blues Project, Midas and was involved in the 10,000 Maniacs 25th Anniversary tribute band.
Described as a ''tough choice'' by Andrew Hill, Media One Group program manager and host of the event, the four Chautauqua Lake Idol judges had to cut five of Monday night's 10 performers and in the end decided to eliminate Katie Jacobs, Jeff Sanders, Amanda Oleshak, Eric Schwob and Margaret Dickerson.
Chautauqua Lake Idol takes place on six Monday nights over the course of eight weeks.
With both preliminary rounds now completed, only four Mondays remain.
Following ''Disco Night'' on July 23 will be a ''Christmas in July'' event on July 30 and a ''Remember When ...'' theme night on Aug. 6. The final night of competition is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 20, where one winner will be chosen from three finalists.
Idol events begin at 6:30 p.m. and typically runs for two hours. For more information, visit ChautauquaLakeIdol.com or contact SE93 by calling 487-1151.
Send comments to ndean@post-journal.com.
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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