Vocal competition showcases local talent at the SCERA

It’s time for the fourth annual Celebrity vocal competition at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre. This Utah County tradition is performed prior to outdoor movies shown all summer long and is a great opportunity for Utah vocalists to shine.

Competitors perform to live music by This Is Your Band, a Salt Lake based karaoke band. When signing up with the SCERA, performers can choose from over 600 songs. The entrance fee is $35 and up to fifteen performers have their shot at fame each competition. There are still spots available for the July 15, Aug. 5, and Aug. 12 dates; however, these are first come, first serve.

The semifinals will be held August 21 before a “Dancing With the Stars” concert. Six lucky finalists will get the opportunity to open for the country super group Lonestar on Aug 9th. Other perks for the winners are the chance to perform several times throughout the year, including TV appearances at ABC Channel 4 Good Things Utah.

The Celebrity competition works like this. On the June 17th competition, 14 “troopers” sang in the rain in front of professional judges and 3 winners were selected to go to the semi-finals. The night’s judges were Ms. Michelsen, a 5th grade vocal teacher, Michael Ramsey, a singer, actor and performer, and Sandra Pedersen, who is known for her youth performance group.

The vocalists varied from age 12 and 44, and their level of talents varied as well. Some of the performers had stage presence and one performance brought the audience to tears. Others, however, should have limited their singing to the privacy of their homes. The judges had their say and while their picks may seem questionable to some, one can hope that some of the exceptional talents who were not selected continue to stick with their art.

A serious vocalist should take opportunities like these to get practice and exposure in front the many who come to watch and enjoy such events. Please call 1801-225-ARTS to reserve your spot.

What: SCERA Celebrity vocal competition

When: Wednesdays, July 8, July 15, Aug. 5 and Aug. 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Where: SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre, 699 S. State St. in Orem

Entrance fee: $35.00 per performance
Audience price: $4 for adults and $3 for children, students and seniors. This in

Tickets: Can be purchased at the SCERA Shell’s gate, online at www.scera.org or by calling 801-224-ARTS.

Lawn chairs can be rented for $1.