Staff Writer
HOULTON — The stage lights dimmed to a packed auditorium Saturday night for the first stage of Aroostook Idol competition.
Pioneer Times Photos/Sarah Berthiaume
FINALISTS — Three participants in this weekend’s Aroostook Idol sang their way to the top. Fifteen contestants performed and, with an audience vote, three were chosen to advance to the competition finale in March. They are, from left: Caleb Richardson of Houlton, Dawson Graham of Weston and Renae Russell of Island Falls.
The event, a fund-raiser for United Way of Aroostook, was the first part of a 3-way competition to determine who this year’s Aroostook Idol will be. Singing competitions are held in northern, central and southern Aroostook, and audiences at each event choose three favorites to advance to a finale in March.
At Houlton High School auditorium, fifteen aspiring “Idols” took to the stage for the Feb. 2 show, entertaining the audience with a cross-section of genres that included a strong dose of country music, along with contemporary and gospel favorites.
In the end, audience members chose three to advance to Idol finals at Caribou: Caleb Richardson of Houlton, Dawson Graham of Weston and Renae Russell of Island Falls.
Richardson, a senior at Houlton High School, awed the judges (and the audience) with his rendition of “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me.
“You gave me cold chills with that performance,” said judge Sherrill Campbell.
Fellow judges Brian Mosher and Colleen Duplessis agreed, calling Richardson’s performance “engaging” and “powerful.”
Renae Russell, an Idol contestant in 2007, offered an authentic performance of Alicia Keyes’ “If I Ain’t Got You.”
“You’ve got it going on, girl,” Duplessis raved, commending 15-year-old Russell for her strong vocal abilities.
“You have a great voice and great control,” added Mosher.
Dawson Graham of Weston, also a former Idol contestant, stepped up to mic for a powerful performance of “Livin’ Our Love Song” by Jason Michael Carroll. Even though 20-year-old Graham candidly admitted he was singing to one girl in particular, judges felt his performance enraptured both them and the audience.
“I loved it all,” remarked Campbell.
Brian Mosher told Graham he travels frequently to Nashville and likened Graham’s performance to those Nashville hopefuls on the verge of making it big in the music business.
“That was top notch,” he added. “I’ll see you in Nashville.”
Also part of the awards that night was a newly-created “Spirit of Aroostook Idol” award. The award, recognizing a contestant to exemplifies the spirit of the event and the United Way, was given to Melissa Tilley of Blaine.
But the night was a win for more than the finalists. United Way President Brian Sipe and United Way Campaign Chair Michael MacPherson expressed appreciation to the audience for their support in the fund-raiser. Aroostook Idol has developed into one of United Way’s largest fund-raisers, bringing in roughly $30,000 by finale night to benefit the needy in Aroostook.
Others taking the stage in Houlton were: Brandon Clark, Carolyn Devoe, Mariah Brewer, Doris Sherman, David Dow, Windy Scott, Tadd Hamel, Nicholas Hovey, Becky Small, Brittani Suitter and Christie Dobbins.
Upcoming competitions include the central Aroostook performances on Friday, Feb. 8 at Presque Isle Middle School auditorium and the northern Aroostook performances on Friday, Feb. 15 at UMFK’s Fox Auditorium. After these shows, the finale will be held Sunday, March 2 at Caribou Performing Arts Center.
