By Staff
By MIKE VOSS
Contributing Editor
The 2009 season of Beaufort County Idol, a component of Music in the Streets, is seeking contestants for its April 17 competition.
Also, street performers such as jugglers, magicians and one-man bands are being recruited by Music in the Streets organizers, said Jule MacKenzie, co-chairman of this year’s Music in the Streets committee.
Rumley is ready to assist prospective performers in preparing for the competitions.
One expected change to Beaufort County Idol this year will be the use of a karaoke machine to provide music for contestants. While Rumley is working to have the karaoke machine in use for the April 17 competition, there’s a chance it may not be employed until the May 15 contest. Contestants have the option to perform a cappella, or without music. Other than that modification, the rules from last year’s competitions remain in effect, including a 15-performer limit for each contest.
Contestants, who must be at least 10 years old, should report to the competition area 30 minutes before the event beings, she said.
Music in the Streets, sponsored by the Historic Downtown Washington Merchants Association, is held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. the third Friday of each month from April through October. This year’s Music in the Streets dates are April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, Aug. 21, Sept. 18 and Oct. 16
Beaufort County Idol’s monthly competitions are held at 7:30 p.m. on those Fridays. Like last year, the competitions will be staged in front of the former Bank of Washington building on West Main Street.
The top three performer in those contests will compete in the Beaufort County Idol finale set for the afternoon of Oct. 31 at the Turnage Theater. There’s a possibility the winner of this year’s Beaufort County Idol will perform at the Turnage Theater, possibly as the opening act for a performance at the historic theater, according to Music in the Street organizers.
Prizes for the winners of the final competition will be awarded in October. The prizes are: $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place. These prizes will be awarded in the form of “Washington dollars,” which may only be spent at a participating downtown Washington business.
Singers interested in competing in Beaufort County Idol should contact Rumley at 946-2072 or by e-mail at vsrumley@earthlink.net.
Musicians and street performers interested in performing during Music in the Streets should contact Mackenzie at 252-945-2410.