The effort to reach out to local elementary students seems to have paid off for the Manteca Idol Board of Directors hoping to attract a broader cross-section of the community for the annual performance competition.
According to Director of Operations Melanee Scarborough, out of the nearly dozen contestants that tried out over the last weekend, only two were returning participants. That far exceeds the expectations of the board that reconfigured the competition to both increase the fairness and the family-friendly nature of the event.
“With only two returning contestants out of the round of recent tryouts, we’re starting to get a slew of new people involved which is great,” Scarborough said. “The outreach was very successful. Through word of mouth we had some competitors from the local high schools, and having some of our local competitors talking to their friends helped generate some interest with people who had not yet participated.”
Joining the newcomers will be familiar faces Brieanne Jansen, Dreama Diaz, Amanda Fleig, Hannah Goe and Kaylie Dotson.
And it won’t just be Manteca residents who will get a chance to see the talent that these budding stars bring to the stage.
During the San Joaquin County Fair, current Manteca Idol winner Shellie Hoyt and several other contestants will be featured on the community stage for several days – allowing them to showcase their singing skills to the thousands that flock to the fairgrounds every summer.
Performances are currently set for Wednesday, June 16, from 5 to 6 p.m., Thursday, June 17, from 3 to 4 p.m., a possible performance on Friday that has yet to be announced and a final two-performance showing on Saturday, June 19, from 12-1 p.m. and again from 4 to 5 p.m.
All performances are free with fair admission.
Scarborough says that plans are currently in the works to host another open tryout for both the Manteca Idol and Junior Idol competitions sometime in June, although that date has yet to be finalized.
All proceeds raised from the Manteca Idol competition benefit the Manteca Boys and Girls Club and coincide with the annual telethon – the non-profit youth organization’s main annual fundraiser that helps keep the doors open.
For more information about Manteca Idol, or to leave a message for one of the members of the committee, visit www.mantecaidol.com.
According to Director of Operations Melanee Scarborough, out of the nearly dozen contestants that tried out over the last weekend, only two were returning participants. That far exceeds the expectations of the board that reconfigured the competition to both increase the fairness and the family-friendly nature of the event.
“With only two returning contestants out of the round of recent tryouts, we’re starting to get a slew of new people involved which is great,” Scarborough said. “The outreach was very successful. Through word of mouth we had some competitors from the local high schools, and having some of our local competitors talking to their friends helped generate some interest with people who had not yet participated.”
Joining the newcomers will be familiar faces Brieanne Jansen, Dreama Diaz, Amanda Fleig, Hannah Goe and Kaylie Dotson.
And it won’t just be Manteca residents who will get a chance to see the talent that these budding stars bring to the stage.
During the San Joaquin County Fair, current Manteca Idol winner Shellie Hoyt and several other contestants will be featured on the community stage for several days – allowing them to showcase their singing skills to the thousands that flock to the fairgrounds every summer.
Performances are currently set for Wednesday, June 16, from 5 to 6 p.m., Thursday, June 17, from 3 to 4 p.m., a possible performance on Friday that has yet to be announced and a final two-performance showing on Saturday, June 19, from 12-1 p.m. and again from 4 to 5 p.m.
All performances are free with fair admission.
Scarborough says that plans are currently in the works to host another open tryout for both the Manteca Idol and Junior Idol competitions sometime in June, although that date has yet to be finalized.
All proceeds raised from the Manteca Idol competition benefit the Manteca Boys and Girls Club and coincide with the annual telethon – the non-profit youth organization’s main annual fundraiser that helps keep the doors open.
For more information about Manteca Idol, or to leave a message for one of the members of the committee, visit www.mantecaidol.com.
