Music styles as diverse as opera, modern country and jazz were performed at the Civic Auditorium on Saturday, June 19 by those hoping to be the 2010 Hoosier STAR.

Mitchel Pynakker, 16, won the youth division and $500 with his performance of Van Morrison’s “Moondance” sung a la Michael Buble.  Mitchel is a junior at Valparaiso High School.

Michael Ohm’s performance of “Save the Last Dance For Me” charmed the audience enough to win him the first runner-up spot and $400.  Michael, 16, is from Valparaiso and has performed in the lead role in “Footloose” as Willard at the Portage Community Theatre.

Selena Van Baber, also 16, secured the second runner-up place and $300 with her performance of “My Strongest Suit” from the musical Aida.  Selena is from Lowell.

La Porte’s Nanda Danitschek won the adult division with her version of “I will always love you.”  The prized position is worth $1,000.  Danitschek is a local vocal and dramatic coach.

“You are definitely a diva,” judge Kevon Smith told Danitschek after her performance.

Ted Johnson of Merrillville won first runner-up and $750 with his rendition of Lionel Richie’s “Hello.”  Johnson has performed previously in the Chicago area.

Kellie Rumba of West Lafayette won second runner-up and $500 with her version of “Una voce poco fa” from the opera The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini. Rumba is a first-year Master of Music student at Cleveland Institute of Music.

Hoosier STAR is open to contestants across the state and in southwest Michigan.  In March a panel of five judges selected twelve finalists - six adults and six youths to compete in June.  Several hundred people in attendance voted Saturday night in the 5th annual competition by putting paper votes in ballot boxes.

The performers sang with accompaniment from the Hoosier STAR Orchestra with many members of the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra.

“I thought they were amazing” said Sheryl Edwards, chairperson of the event.  “Everyone did an awesome job.”

Click here for Aradise's photos from the event!