Historic Ironwood Theatre holds HIT Idol tryouts

By IAN MINIELLY

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Ironwood - On Saturday and Sunday, young performers flocked to the Historic Ironwood Theatre in downtown Ironwood for tryouts for this years HIT Idol. Bruce Greenhill, managing director of the theatre, said they expected 30-40 kids on each day, from which the judges will have to whittle down the number to around 40 for the competition.

 Janie Williams and Annette Burchell had the task over the weekend to listen to all those performances and select the final group for the competition. Williams said the two of them start out as judges this weekend, but once the selections are made they become coaches focused on bringing out the most talent and skill from the competitors.

 Williams said for many of the people competing, this might be their first time singing in front of other people, their first time performing on a stage, and even their first time using a microphone. Whether winning or losing the competitors gain experience in a variety of areas that may have an extensive impact on their lives.

 While the Globe was at the theatre, Leilah Anderson, 12, a student at Luther L. Wright was trying out. Anderson said she did not compete last year, but her older sister did and it inspired her to compete this year. Anderson's song choice was "I Was Here," by Lady Antebellum.

 The competitors are judged on seven categories. The categories are scored from 0-10 points for a score at the end out of 70 possible points. The criteria the judges use is song choice, stage presence and poise, vocal quality, pitch and intonation, rhythm and tempo, dynamics and expressiveness, and overall impression and entertainment factor. The song selection has a giant impact on each of these categories, which makes it of extreme importance.