“ROCKET TO THE STARS” singing competition announces finalists

“Rocket to the Stars” announces the list of semi-finalists for the 2012 season.  “Rocket to the Stars” is the biggest singing competition in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.  This year people from three states made the trip to audition for a spot in the May 25th semi-final show at the historic Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle, Pa.  The semi-finalists are:

1.  Dawn Savage, New Brighton (Pa), 23 years old

2.  Mariah Keefer, Monaca (Pa), 17 years old

3.  Hunter Cook, Franklin (Pa), 16 years old

4.  Kiersten Lee Kelly, Imperial (Pa), 16 years old

5.  Cassidi Udy, Grove City (Pa), 17 years old

6.  Christian Beck, Freedom (Pa), 18 years old

7.  Jessica Saenz, Latrobe (Pa), 19 years old

8.  Amber Dougherty, Saegertown (Pa), 31 years old

9.  Megan Crager, Columbus (Oh), 30 years old

10.  Samuel Mancini, Beaver Falls (Pa), 18 years old

11.  Kevin Downey, Clymer (NY), 28 years old

12.  Rachael Mellor, Grove City (Pa), 28 years old

ALTERNATES (in the event one of the above leaves the show or does not meet required obligations)

A1.  Kassie Simpson, Boardman (Oh), 20 years old

A2.  Shannon Davies, New Castle (Pa), 25 years old

A3.  Kali Davies-Anderson, New Castle (Pa) 27 years old

Contestants will be contacted by “Rocket to the Stars” to schedule their rehearsal block times.  Ticket information for the May 25th semi-finals will be released at a later time.

Six contestants will move on to the July 14th finals at the 21st annual Fireworks Festival in New Castle.  Last year’s show had a live crowd of more than 30-thousand people.  This year’s finals will be broadcast live on multiple radio stations and will include text message voting to help determine the winner.  The 2012 champion will receive $10,000 and a year of professional artist development with “Rocket to the Stars” producer James Meny.  Meny, a former professional opera singer, now works with several record labels on everything from high-level voice instruction to staging and performance techniques.  He has also worked with a number of A-list celebrities including Michael Jackson and Ray Charles.