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Rabun crowns Welch idol
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| Brooke Welch sings 'in the 3rd annual Rabun Idol competition. |
By Jeremy Styron News Editor
Though Ryan Seacrest, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul were likely thousands of miles away, a piece of "American Idol" magic was back at Rabun County High School this year.
Senior Brooke Welch brought her own magic to the show, offering a soulful performance of the Gladys Knight & the Pips' hit, "Midnight Train to Georgia," as her final song of the third annual Rabun Idol competition.
"I was happy," she said upon realizing she had won the competition. "It was my last year. (I) wanted to go out with a bang."
After the final note of the song, the school's Little Theater boomed with claps and cheers, perhaps signaling the crowd had made up its mind about who the third annual Rabun Idol crown belonged to.
"I like it because it's upbeat and, yeah, my personality" fit it, Welch said about the song.
The competition was the brainchild of music teacher Vickie Holtsclaw, who said she enjoyed watching "American Idol" on television.
"I thought it was a really good idea for a fund-raiser, but for them (the students) to have the stage" was another reason to begin the competition, she said.
The contest was once exclusive to Rabun, but other area schools have since borrowed the idea and set up their own Idol competitions.
About 20 students auditioned in January, and 10 made the cut. Freshman Georgia Gober, who placed second, was a judges' pick and entered as the 11th contestant. Musical categories included popular, oldies, country and songs formerly performed on "American Idol."
Holtsclaw said singers practiced occasionally at school, but they predominantly rehearse at home. "They sometimes can work on it here, but a lot of it is outside of class."
Sophomore Kaley Rasmussen said the competition demanded "a lot of work, and it was really hard to find the songs" that she would sing.
Her final song of the night was the Randy Travis song, "Three Wooden Crosses."
"It was tough because I have a very small range," she added, noting that she sought out songs in lower registers.
A guitar player for five or six years, Rasmussen said having to perform without her instrument was another challenge.
"I've sung a lot in churches and other places, but I've always had my guitar," she said.
Gober, who sung the catchy Connie Francis song, "Stupid Cupid," said she picked the song off the advice of junior Rachael Messmer, who is also in the music program at the school.
"One of my friends told me it might fit my voice well, and I listened to them, and I'm glad I did," Gober said.
Welch, who said she practiced singing about every other night for the competition, said the effort she put into practicing was worth it.
"It feels good because you put in a lot of hard work and it paid off."
Senior Brooke Welch brought her own magic to the show, offering a soulful performance of the Gladys Knight & the Pips' hit, "Midnight Train to Georgia," as her final song of the third annual Rabun Idol competition.
"I was happy," she said upon realizing she had won the competition. "It was my last year. (I) wanted to go out with a bang."
After the final note of the song, the school's Little Theater boomed with claps and cheers, perhaps signaling the crowd had made up its mind about who the third annual Rabun Idol crown belonged to.
"I like it because it's upbeat and, yeah, my personality" fit it, Welch said about the song.
The competition was the brainchild of music teacher Vickie Holtsclaw, who said she enjoyed watching "American Idol" on television.
"I thought it was a really good idea for a fund-raiser, but for them (the students) to have the stage" was another reason to begin the competition, she said.
The contest was once exclusive to Rabun, but other area schools have since borrowed the idea and set up their own Idol competitions.
About 20 students auditioned in January, and 10 made the cut. Freshman Georgia Gober, who placed second, was a judges' pick and entered as the 11th contestant. Musical categories included popular, oldies, country and songs formerly performed on "American Idol."
Holtsclaw said singers practiced occasionally at school, but they predominantly rehearse at home. "They sometimes can work on it here, but a lot of it is outside of class."
Sophomore Kaley Rasmussen said the competition demanded "a lot of work, and it was really hard to find the songs" that she would sing.
Her final song of the night was the Randy Travis song, "Three Wooden Crosses."
"It was tough because I have a very small range," she added, noting that she sought out songs in lower registers.
A guitar player for five or six years, Rasmussen said having to perform without her instrument was another challenge.
"I've sung a lot in churches and other places, but I've always had my guitar," she said.
Gober, who sung the catchy Connie Francis song, "Stupid Cupid," said she picked the song off the advice of junior Rachael Messmer, who is also in the music program at the school.
"One of my friends told me it might fit my voice well, and I listened to them, and I'm glad I did," Gober said.
Welch, who said she practiced singing about every other night for the competition, said the effort she put into practicing was worth it.
"It feels good because you put in a lot of hard work and it paid off."
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