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The Big Show
It's time again for our annual Talent from Towns
Under Two Thousand Contest. We've selected six
finalists out of hundreds of submitted entries.
These six contestants will join Garrison Keillor
on April 21 for a live broadcast from the Fitzgerald
Theater in beautiful downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.
Vote
Online for Your Favorite
Go online during the show and cast your vote
for the performer you think is most deserving
of the much-coveted Silver Water Tower Trophy.
The online votes will be tallied and added to
those from the theater audience. Garrison will
announce the winner toward the end of show.
Last year's winner, Leilani
Clark, a 12-year-old singer from Wellborn,
FL (pop. 500), will also be on hand.
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Scott Olson
A trumpet player from Mission Hill,
South Dakota, Scott is a teacher in the Yankton
School District where he teaches instrumental
music in three elementary schools. Scott currently
plays principal trumpet with the South Dakota
Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs with
the Sioux Falls Big Band and The Brass Section
in northwest Iowa. Scott lives on a farm near
Mission Hill with his wife Barb and their nine-year-old
daughter, Heidi. |
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Kyle
Coolidge
Kyle is 11 years old and has studied
piano for a little over 3 years. He lives with
his parents, Patty and Mark, and his older brother,
Casey, in Delton, Wisconsin, population 1916.
Kyle entered our contest at the suggestion of
his piano teacher, Amos Roe, who describes Kyle
as an inquisitive young man who loves cats and
dogs and "is a total blast to be with."
Kyle (left) is pictured here with Casey at their
piano. |
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Andy
Newbrey
Andy comes to us from Towanda,
Kansas, population 1000. Andy is currently working
toward an accounting degree at Wichita State University
and his wife, Michelle, is the town's veterinarian.
Andy said news of his appearance on APHC has traveled
fast around town. Towanda's two city hall officials
have been alerted, as has the town historian,
and everyone at The Rusty Bucket and Red's Cafe.
There's even talk of posting a notice on the bulletin
board at the local bank. |
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Katie
Kerkhover
With a population of 47, Katie's
hometown of Rockwood, Illinois, is one of the
smallest of the small towns we've seen. Katie
is 16 years old and has been fiddling and singing
since the age of seven. She's an accomplished
performer having appeared on several television
and radio shows in Nashville, Tennessee, in addition
to local church picnics and town festivals. Katie
is currently working on a new CD which will be
produced by John Carter Cash. |
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Patti
Casey
Patti is a singer/songwriter from
North Duxbury, Vermont, population 1290. Patti
has won several songwriting contests including
the Kerrville 2000 New Folk Songwriters Contest
and a second-place finish in the 1995 Chris Austin
Songwriting Contest. Patti's current CD is entitled
Under Different Skies and she's even got
her own web site: www.patticasey.com. |
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Celestial
Sirens
Celestial Sirens is a four-person
performing ensemble. The group's members are:
Marybeth McCaffery (Lincoln, VT, pop. 974), Melissa
Chesnut Tangerman (Middletown Springs, VT, pop.
686), Deborah Farnham (Starksboro, VT, pop. 1511)
and Roger Grow (Plainfield, VT, pop. 1302). For
more information, visit www.earlymusicvermont.org.
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Since
we've only time enough for six contestants during
our show, many talented musicians do not get
the chance to perform. Here's a sampling of
some of the performers that time simply does
not permit us to include. Requires
RealPlayer
Bearfoot
Bluegrass [Listen
to audition]
A six-member bluegrass band from Cordova, Alaska.
The
Atkinson Family Band [Listen
to audition]
A six-member bluegrass from Harrisville,
New York, in the foothills of the Adirondack
mountains.
Robinella
and the CC Stringband [Listen
to audition]
A four-member band from Rockford, Tennessee.
Hawk
Arps Jazz Band [Listen
to audition]
A talented jazz vibraharpist from Lopez,
Washington.
Katherine
Evans [Listen
to audition]
A solo bassoonist from Towanda, Kansas.
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