Idol Contestants Raise Their Voices

After belting out Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock ‘n Roll,” 8-year-old Willy Neamie had just one question:

“Did I make it?” he asked after his performance at Thursday’s final Lilburn Idol auditions at City Hall.

“Oh yes,” came the answer, prompting Willy into a double fist-pump while mother Kay Kenny beamed with a wide smile on her face.

Willy was one of 20 singers — mostly kids — who tried out for Idol, our community’s annual showcase of local singing talent. While all are to be alerted via email to officially be invited, virtually every one was told they’d get stage time once the competition begins June 24.

Simon Cowell, American Idol’s former curmudgeonly judge, was not needed, nor wanted, on Thursday. If you had the guts to stand up in front of people you don’t know and sing two songs (a cappella and with music accompaniment), you were pretty much assured of continuing on.

But that doesn’t mean Lilburn has limited talent.

“We could put on a great variety show right here in Lilburn with the talent level we have,” said Diane Bronk, who, along with fellow Idol judges Pat Swan and Lilburn Mayor Diana Preston, listened intently for two hours as singers sang songs ranging from rock and pop to country and R&B.

All of the singers, auditioning for various reasons, showed they have singing talent — there’s no doubt about that — and Idol is a vehicle for them to develop their skills.

“The value of what we are doing,” said Preston, “is that this gives kids a non-threatening venue to showcase their talents.”

That doesn’t mean some weren’t nervous.

Briana Geter, a 12-year-old from Lilburn who attends New Life Academy in Duluth, said she was “a little bit nervous” before singing “Just The Way You Are” by Bruno Mars. Briana loves to sing in church, but hasn’t tried something like this before.

“I’m doing this because I want to get over my stage fright,” she said.  Did it work? “A little.”

David Goni, 14, a rising freshman at Parkview High School, said he entered at the urging of a friend, Amanda Harless, who was second in her age division last year.  Harless also auditioned Thursday.

Accompanied by his guitar, which he started playing only a year and a half ago, he figured “Why not?” take a shot at the competition.

“I didn’t crack,” he said of his audition, “so I think I did OK.”

Ashley Kemper, 11, of Lilburn, has aspirations of a career as a performer when grows up. She is the lead singer of a local R&B singing group called Rocabellaz. She sang “Beggin’ on Your Knees” by Victoria Justice as parents Cherita and Reginald looked on.

“Singing, dancing and acting are my three favorite things to do,” Ashley said.

“I’m very proud of her,” Cherita Kemper said. “I think she’s going to go far. She’s very talented.”

Mother and daughter Gwen and Heather Cantrell, former Lilburn residents now living in Walton, both auditioned. Both have been signing since they were young.

“We’re always looking for things to do together,” said Gwen, who was a Star Search participant some 20 years ago. "Singing is something we've always done."

Lilburn Idol performances are scheduled June 24, July 8 and Aug. 5 (final) in City Park.