The Bologna Performing Arts Center and the Delta Music Institute are partnering in a very special “Delta Idol” competition to identify the region’s top young performing artists. Applications for the 2009 “Delta Idol” competition are ready to be filled out on line or picked up at the Bologna Performing Arts Center on the campus of Delta State University.
“We’ve been getting a lot of phone calls, so we decided we better start letting folks apply early. With only two nights of auditions, we want to make sure that our celebrity judges are not overwhelmed,” said David Dallas, Executive Director of the Bologna Performing Arts Center. Dallas said that judges have been selected for the competition and will be announced soon.
Anyone interested in auditioning will need to fill out an application prior to attending the auditions. Auditions are currently scheduled for Dec. 2, at the E.E. Bass Center in Greenville and for Dec. 3, at the Bologna Performing Arts Center in Cleveland. Auditions will begin at 6 p.m.
Interested applicants must be at least 15 years of age or older on the night of the “Delta Idol” performance. Applicants will need to submit verification of their date of birth.
Participants are to prepare three songs, not to exceed 45 seconds in length, to be performed with no accompaniment.
The application fee for “Delta Idol” is $20. The $20 application fee entitles each participant to two tickets to the final performance scheduled for Jan. 27, 2009.
All applications must be received at the Bologna Performing Art Center‘s Administrative Offices on or before 5 p.m., Dec. 1, 2008.
After the two initial auditions, the final competition for “Delta Idol” will feature 14-20 participants. The entire competition will take place that evening with audience members being given the opportunity to vote for their favorite performer.
“We are very excited about having audience voting devices for the competition. We are hoping to have 500 voting members in the audience to help make the final decision about performers. Allowing our audience to vote, should make for an extra fun evening and it will generate excitement about the marvelous talent we have right here in the Mississippi Delta,” said Tricia Walker, Director of the Delta Music Institute
Prizes will be awarded for all those participating in the final “Delta Idol” performance. The overall winner will receive a $250 cash prize, six hours of professional recording studio time at the state of the art recording studio of the Delta Music Institute, and will also be given the opportunity to perform at the Grand Opening of the Delta Music Institute in the spring of 2009.
For information on applying for the “Delta Idol” competition, please contact the Bologna Performing Arts Center at (662) 846-4625, or download the application from the website at www.bolognapac.com.
