Small Town, Big Talent Hits The Stage at Wheatley Idol, August 5!

A little town with big talent! Who would have known that there was such amazing talent in such a little town? Youth from all around Southwestern ON will hit the stage at the ninth annual Wheatley Idol, which is taking place Sunday, August 5th at the Two Creeks Conservation Area in Wheatley. Wheatley Idol is a part of the annual Wheatley Fish Festival, which takes place the Civic Holiday Weekend on Aug 3, 4, 5, & 6.

Organizer of the event Darla Janzen told Biz X Magazine that the talent competition, which was started by the Wheatley Optimists, has grown since it began, and this feature attraction continues to grow.

“It has become really popular,” Janzen said. "Online pre-registration filled up fast, setting another record year for 2012! Waiting List is currently available. We credit enthusiastic Wheatley Idol members, our website, along with the media and other mediums for helping get the word out.”

Contestants hail from the Wheatley area and as far as Windsor and London to vie for the coveted Wheatley Idol title “Overall Winner – Top Star”. The competition also draws hundreds of spectators, who offer support and encouragement for the great talent that takes to the outdoor stage.

The singing competition is broken down into four age categories (6-9, 10-12, 13-16, and 17-29) and includes “celebrity judges” who determine the 13 winners.

“Though it’s a singing competition, there are singer/songwriter talents that add to the mix, making it a diverse group of contestants,” said Janzen. The celebrity judges include local recording artist, singer/songwriter Nicole Barron, 92.7 Max FM, morning host Cordell Green, and Paige Frankfurth the 2011 Wheatley Idol Overall Winner. “Judges Nicole & Cordell have been with us for many years now, and have judged amazing talent at the competition. They’ve become a staple in the Judges panel, and we’re always excited to have the previous year’s winner join the team. They get to experience it from the other side of the stage that makes for a great experience.” There are great prizes for all the winners and includes a star-studded recording package for the 2012 Overall Winner”.  

Janzen is excited to announce the four 1st place winners from this year’s contest will also be guest singers at the 2012 Comber Fair - Miss Comber Fair Pageant. More announcements are in the works. With volunteers, prize sponsors and community partnerships, Janzen credits all of these for the success of the annual event.

“Everybody does their part and we have a lot of great support,” she said. Janzen indicated a large crowd is anticipated again this year for the event. Preparations for the competition are going smooth, and the list of the contestants will be announced soon.

“We’ve tried to put a bit of everything into it, so it’s appealing to everybody,” she added.

Admission to the event is free and open to the public as a free concert. Rain or shine! The Two Creeks outdoor amphitheatre makes for a wonderful woodland setting, and in the event of rain, the pavilion is available. Door prizes for the audience can be won; food from the Wheatley Scouts will be for sale, and 92.7 Max FM Radio out of Leamington will be on hand during the event to give out free swag. Bring your Lawn chairs and Idol cheers!

MCs Dustyn Janzen and Corey Robertson, local celebrity personalities will keep everyone entertained and well informed throughout the event. We encourage the public to come out to the event and enjoy the entertainment.

You can also Stay Connected with Wheatley Idol on Facebook, Twitter, and Idol Alerts! Check out the Wheatley Idol website for more details, Idol highlights and news. www.wheatleyidol.com

by Deborah Jones Publisher Biz X Magazine

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