HIT Idol winners perform at Summerfest

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The seven winners of HIT Idol performed with American Idol finalist Naima Adedapo at Milwaukee's Summerfest Saturday, the culmination of a journey that began last November when Adedapo promised the HIT Idol winners they would accompany her during her Milwaukee performance.

The winners performed two songs: One Republic's "Till the Love Runs Out" and "Burn," by Ellie Goulding.

"The crowd at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage loved the performance," said Bruce Greenhill, the managing director of the Historic Ironwood Theatre. "(The crowd) gave our kids a fantastic ovation after each number. I'm so proud of the way they stepped up and seized the moment, making the most of the opportunity given to them by Adedapo."

The seven winners of HIT Idol - a talent show loosely based on the popular TV show "American Idol" according to HIT Idol producer Janie Williams and named after the Historic Ironwood Theatre - come from across the Gogebic Range. Vivian Gammill, Kate Averitt and Vanessa Nasi are from Ironwood, Eddie Carrothers is from Ewen, Dakota Rice is from Hurley, Elise Besonen attends Ewen-Trout Creek Schools and Enola Miskovich attends Wakefield-Marenisco Schools.

Adedapo, 30, who grew up in Milwaukee and finished in the top 11 of the 10th season of American Idol in 2011, decided to have the winners perform with her after she headlined the fourth annual HIT Idol in November.

According to Greenhill, Adedapo was once again so impressed by the winner's performance during SummerFest that she invited the group on stage during her encore - a performance of Rascal Flat's "Life is a Highway."

"This was a dream come true," said Averitt, "standing on the Summerfest stage looking out at all those people was amazing and something I'll never forget."

The other winners echoed Averitt's joy.

"It was just so amazing," said Besonen.

Williams, who accompanied the group to Milwaukee praised the young singers for the way they represented the Gogebic Range.

"I could not be more proud of these young people, not just in how well they performed, but in how they represented our region and the entire HIT Idol family," Williams said.

Williams also credited Adedapo and her manager Cindy Owen for making the experience possible.

"Naima and Cindy went to a lot of trouble to make this happen and we are so grateful," said Williams, "what a blessing they have been in the lives of our young performers."

- Richard Jenkins