May 7, 2008

12 Vocalists to Perform at Hoosier Star Contest
Audience votes for winners

Hoosier Star 2008
Date: June 21, 2008
Time: 7:00 pm
La Porte Civic Auditorium
Sponsored By: Horizon Bank and NIPSCO
For additional article information contact:
Cheryl Ferguson
Executive Director
LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra
P.O. Box 563
La Porte, IN 46352
www.lcso.net
219-362-9020
219-241-9869 (cell - Press Only)
Sheryl Edwards – Hoosier Star Chairperson at 219-363-8175 or sedwards7@msn.com
Photos of finalists available at www.lcso.net “Press Room”

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Two area stars will emerge on June 21 at the La Porte Civic Auditorium. The audience will choose their favorite singers from a group of 12 finalists selected for Hoosier Star 2008, a benefit concert presented by the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra.
“Hoosier Star is one of the most exciting events to hit this area,” said Sheryl Edwards, chairperson of the contest. “It is definitely the place to be on June 21.”

The competition began this March when 112 people auditioned for the 12 coveted finalist spots. A panel of five judges with extensive musical backgrounds selected six finalists in the youth division (age17 and under) and six in the adult division (age18 and over).

The 12 finalists are from Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan. They will perform a variety of music, accompanied by the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra, with music director and conductor Philip Bauman, as well as by Jeff Apple and The Hoosier All Star Band. The event, sponsored by Horizon Bank and NIPSCO, is at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2008, at the La Porte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St., La Porte, IN. The audience will be given ballots to cast toward their favorite singer, and the winners will be announced at the end of the evening.

“The finalists are from all walks of life,” Edwards said. “They are police officers, firemen, students, teachers and businessmen, just to name a few. Hoosier Star continues to get bigger and better and is an incredibly exciting evening of vocal competition. The audience will be amazed at the talent of these individuals.”

Youth Division Finalists
Kaylee Paige Annable – Chesterton - 17
Clarissa Bowers – Chesterton - 17
Amanda Haack – North Judson - 13
Alex Jeffirs – Argos - 10
Emmie Lo – New Buffalo, MI - 8
Leslie Ann Lopez – Crown Point – 10
Adult Division Finalists
John Bello – La Porte
Tess Bowers - Chesterton
Dennis Floyd - Westville
Brian Phillips – La Porte
Jeff Robinson – La Porte
Jessica Balding - Lake Station

Celebrity judge commentators will give their opinions after each performance. The judge commentators are Bruce Hastell, guitarist, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Kelly King-Cole, dance instructor, toured with production of "Cats", choreographer; Mary Kay Budak, former Indiana state representative, pageant judge, area performer; Steve Becker, actor, singer, comic; Brandon Williams, Hoosier Star 2007 adult winner; and Jenny Hartson, Hoosier Star 2007 youth winner.

Joe Mellen of Long Beach, IN. will serve again as Master of Ceremonies. While ballots are tabulated officially by Schmitt and Kaylor of La Porte, the audience will be treated with performances by last year’s Hoosier Star winners, Brandon Williams and Jenny Hartson and the 12 finalists will perform “Shining Star” by Earth, Wind and Fire.

The public can get a sneak preview of the finalists by going to the orchestra’s website at www.lcso.net. To help support Hoosier Star, sponsorships at various levels are still available by contacting the LCSO office. Current sponsors and contributors to Hoosier Star 2008 include: Horizon Bank, NIPSCO, Edgar and Yvonne Lindborg, Kingsbury Elevator, Tom and Sheryl Edwards, Rick and Elizabeth Dekker, Pam Dishman, Centier Bank, Kabelin Ace Hardware/Roxy Music, Little House Fashions, La Porte Business Center, Post Tribune, Swanson and Swanson Insurance, Chris Randall Photography, L R Clothing, East Chicago Firefighter’s Local #365, Kersting’s Harley Davidson Cycle Center and World of Motorcycles Museum, Schmitt & Kaylor, “Mighty Michl’s”, Kathy Zmuda & Chicago’s “A Cooler Planet”, Kleckner Interior Systems, Inc., James Thornburg & family, Glenn and Kathy Lubeznik/McDonalds Restaurants of La Porte County, Dr. Donald Maddack, Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, the Daniel Luck family, Friends of the Symphony, PaidMyDues.com, La Porte Moose Lodge #492, Gene and Deb Jonas/Jonas Construction, La Porte Little Theatre, Dot Kesling, La Porte County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Oink’s Ice Cream Shop, New Buffalo Savings Bank, Lee Fugate/Attitudes Nail Technician, Gortrac, a Division of A & A Manufacturing, New Buffalo Fine Arts Council, Crown ESA and General Insurance Services and friends.

Ticket prices are reserved table of 10, $350; table seat, $30, adult balcony seat, $15; and child balcony seat, $5. For tickets, call the La Porte County Symphony office at 219-362-9020, or purchase online at www.lcso.net. Tickets are also available at the La Porte Civic Auditorium and the “As Time Goes By” retail shop, 614 Lincolnway in La Porte. If tickets are not sold out in advance, they can be purchased at the door the night of the performance. Early ticket purchases are recommended for this popular event.

Hoosier Star is a benefit for the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra is celebrating the start of its 36th season with a mission to bring the joy of music to residents of La Porte County and surrounding areas and to broaden the artistic experience of the people it serves. The proceeds from Hoosier Star 2008 will be used to further the mission through concerts and events, help educate and cultivate young artists and enrich and entertain audiences for many years to come.

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For additional article information contact:

Cheryl Ferguson
Executive Director
LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra
P.O. Box 563
LaPorte,IN 46352
www.lcso.net
219-362-9020
219-241-9869 (cell - Press Only)

Download a PDF Version of this Release