◆ Bar J Wrangler fiddler, Tim Hodgson, is serving as celebrity judge and offering a mini concert with his band, Rawhide and Rosin.
Star Valley’s Teen Vocalist competition, sponsored by SVI Media, is returning to the Star Valley High School auditorium stage this Friday, April 21 at 7 p.m. Nine local teens have been selected as finalists, and the winning Teen Vocalist will walk away with $1000 in cash.
“Teen Vocalist is really unique,” said Duke Dance, who represents SVI Media and serves as host for the annual show. “It’s local competition. It’s just Star Valley. The community really likes it and it’s one of those things where it’s always going to be just the local kids. It’s that event that gives our kids a chance to be on stage and compete as part of the Vocalist experience. It’s a great event, a great show.”
A record number of teens each submitted an A Capella audio recording of themselves singing the selection of their choice in hopes of qualifying for the 2023 show. Each audition track was then analyzed by the Teen Vocalist selection committee that shouldered the task of determining which teens would emerge at the top of the list and compete for the $1000 grand prize.
This year’s contestants include Isabel Hinton, Norrah Nielsen, Andrew Jardine, Addie Waldron, Charlotte Crook, Carlee
White, Brock Haderlie, Anson Robinson and Vivian Barrett.
Judges for this year’s competition include Daniel Lechner, the 2022 Vocalist winner, Kayleen Anderson, an icon in the Star Valley music community, and Tim Hodgson, who served as fiddler with the Bar J Wranglers.
In this live vocal competition, each contestant competes in the first of two rounds, and then four finalists advance to the second round. In each round, the three judges’ votes are worth 25 percent of the final totals, with the attending audience vote carrying 25 percent of the vote.
“In the August [Vocalist] event, we have always had a celebrity judge,” explained Dance. “As we were reaching out to po- tentia lcelebrity judges, we came across Tim Hodgson. It didn’t work to have him come in August, but we thought it would be cool to have him come for the Teen Vocalist event.”
In addition to serving as fiddler for the Bar J Wranglers, Hodgson provided harmony vocals when they were performing. His strong credentials and experience in the entertainment industry establish him as a highly qualified judge. While scores are being tallied between the final round and the announcement of the Teen Vocalist winner, Hodgson and his new band, Rawhide and Rosin, will give a mini concert.
“Tim Hodgson has won several fiddle awards,” shared Dance. “He is one of the most decorated fiddle players in the nation. He has won open championships and invitational championships. He’s one of the best on the planet.”
SVI Media will broadcast Teen Vocalist live from SVINews.com so that everyone, everywhere can enjoy the event, but only audience members attending in the auditorium will be invited to vote for their favorite contestant. The broadcast audience will not be able to vote. Tickets are available at the door. Admission is $5 for anyone 18 and older. Children and youth are admitted free of charge.
“Just come watch the show – even if you don’t know anyone that is in it,” concluded Dance. “It’s a fun atmosphere. The competition makes it unique and kind of takes it to that next level. You get to hear all of the kids one at a time when they are soloing, so come out and support the kids and enjoy the mini concert with the bluegrassgroup.”
