Hanover chooses its 2008 Idols
Mechanicsville Local - February 19, 2008
On Sunday night at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center in Ashland, new Hanover Idols were crowned before a packed and enthusiastic audience.
Patrick Warren, Hanover Idol for 2007, wowed the crowd singing, “The Way You do the Things You Do,” before he crowned Kellie West as this year’s Hanover Idol, and Ryan Gary as Junior Hanover Idol. Kellie and Ryan were chosen after 16 talented contestants sang songs that ranged from gospel to country to rock and roll. Emma Redd, a Hanover Idol 2007 winner, was out of town and could not participate.
Max Cook, Junior Hanover Idol Runner Up and Walker Wilson, Hanover Idol Runner Up were also outstanding contestants. Max sang rock and roll accompanied by his uncle on guitar, and Walker sang a gospel song, accompanied by Fred Horn who played piano for many of the contestants.
In January, a very large group of talented contestants auditioned before judges Janice Brock, Sean Patrick Kennedy, Charles Pendleton, and Vicki Wynn. The only requirement for auditioning was that the contestant be at least 8 years old and live in Hanover County.
From this impressive pool of talent, 16 finalists were chosen. The 16 Finalists were from all over Hanover County - nine from the Mechanicsville area, five from the Ashland area, and twow from Rockville. They ranged in age from l0 years old to 48.
No one in the audience envied the judges, because the talent was obvious in every singer. And each contestant had his or her vocal fan club for support. Thanks go to this earnest and friendly group of musical judges—Janet Binns, John Gordon, Charles Hartgrove, Bubba Johnson, James Lynn, and Deborah Shannon.
Tricia and Kevin Trent were the Masters of Ceremonies who managed to make the 16 contestants as comfortable as possible before they sang. Each had rehearsed his or her number that afternoon with help from Sean Kennedy and Fred Horn and with audio support from Bill McElroy of Slipped Disc, a recording studio in Ashland.
Sponsored by the Hanover Arts and Activities Center, the Hanover Idols was produced by Lorie Foley and Sue Watson with a strong support committee co-chaired by Carolyn Peart and Barbara Boor.
After Kellie West and Ryan Gary were announced, they were crowned with huge pink birthday hat/crowns as part of the Ashland 150 Birthday Celebration. These hot pink hats, made by Pat Morris and Lauren Thompson, will be used throughout the year during Ashland’s many birthday events.
Both life-long Hanoverians, Junior Hanover Idol Ryan Gary is a l0 year old fifth grader at Pearson’s Corner Elementary school, and Kellie West is a student at VCU, majoring in interior design. Both sing at their churches—Ryan at Cool Springs Baptist and Kellie at Berea Baptist. Kellie sang in the show choir at Patrick Henry High School, and now she sings the national anthem at softball opening days and sometimes at VCU men’s basketball games.
The audience for this performance filled up the auditorium at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center. Carolyn Peart, co-chair, offered brownies to children as incentive to sit on the floor in front of the judges’ tables in front of the stage—to create more chairs for adult guests.
The Hanover Idols will be asked to perform at events throughout the year, including the Ashland Strawberry Faire, Ashland Street parties, Ashland’s 150 Birthday Party Celebration, the Fourth of July Parade, and the March 2009 Ashland Musical Variety Show.
The plan now is to have the Hanover Idols Competition on even-years when there is no Ashland Musical Variety Show. This means that the next Hanover Idol(s) will be crowned in 2010. So start practicing your vocal talent, and encourage folks who can sing to sign-up. For, you too, could be our next Hanover Idol!