Shawna will be Featured Guest Star at OK City Star Competition

From the official OK City Star news release:

The OK City Star Contest is now accepting entries for 2010.  The contest allows singers age 16-25 to compete for a prize package which includes an original song composition and professional recording session along with a $2000 Visa gift card.  Open Auditions will be held at Quail Springs Mall on Saturday, Jan. 16th beginning at 9:00 am.  Contestants who register in advance may schedule an audition time.

Walk up registrations will be accepted for any remaining spots on the morning of the contest.

The contest is hosted by the OK City Chorus, an Allied Arts Member Agency.  Contest sponsors include KOMA Radio, Deep Fork Grill, Sonic and MK Production Studio.  In its fourth year, the competition is done in four rounds.   For the Open Audition, singers will perform a short section of a song a cappella (without accompaniment) for a three man panel chaired by Kent Jones, KOMA Program Manager.

Those receiving a callback will be scheduled later the same day into the main stage at Quail Springs Mall to sing one minute of the song of their choice before a panel of music experts.  The callback audition may be done a cappella or with accompaniment.

20 to 25 singers will advance to the semi-finals on Saturday, Jan. 23rd on the main stage at Quail Springs Mall beginning at 2:30 pm.  Semi-finalists will perform a full song for a distinguished panel of judges that will include Kevin Smith from Lyric Theater and Cimarron Opera, Country & Western performer Jennifer Maynard, Choreographer and Director Lisa Fox, and award winning Musical Theater star Brandon Adams.   This panel will select 10 finalists to compete the following Saturday.

The finals of the 2010 OK City Star competition will take place at Herrick Auditorium on the campus of SNU on Saturday, January 30th at 7:30 pm.  Each audience member will receive a ballot to vote.  The results of the audience vote will combine with the semi-final scores to determine a winner. 

Following the performance of the ten finalists, 2009 OK City Star, Alex Hall will sing her original song and the world-medalist OK City Chorus will showcase some of the music it is preparing for the upcoming international competition in Seattle.  Finally, the audience will be treated to a special guest performance by Oklahoman Shawna Russell, who was named as one of the “Stars to Watch” in Nashville last year.

For Finals Ticket Information, Contest Rules and Guidelines, and Registration Forms go to www.okcity.org or call  (405)720-SING (7464).