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75 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, July 10, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 8, 2004 Cody Lindsey, 17, of Medford hopes to get a shot at becoming the next �American Idol� during the Southern Oregon version of the national television show this month. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Teen singer tries for American Idol shot He’ll be one of many local songsters who’ll perform during a series of tryouts By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune Cody Lindsey is tuning up his vocal cords. The Medford teen says he’s preparing for his shot at becoming the next "American Idol." "I’ve been singing my whole life. This is what I want to do. This is it," says Lindsey. The 17-year-old South Medford High School graduate was a member of the chamber choir for four years. He has performed in musical theater and vocal competitions running the gamut of musical styles from rock to opera. "I’ve been taking voice lessons since I was in the fifth grade," he says. Lindsey and approximately 100 other local competitors have signed on for their chance to win the "Southern Oregon Idol" contest next month. Advertisement The big draw, says Lindsey, is that the winner is guaranteed an audition before the famous television trio — "American Idol" judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. "A lot of those kids wait in line for several days hoping to be seen," says Brad Nelson, technical director for the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater. "This way they get a guaranteed audition at the nearest national audition site — probably in Las Vegas or San Francisco." The first round of local auditions will be from 5 to 9 p.m. July 20-23 at the Jackson County Expo. Contestants must be between the ages of 16 and 24. Singers will perform a two-minute song of their choice, a cappella. "Anybody deemed good enough will go onto step two on Saturday, July 24," says John Glaser of KMVU-TV Fox 26. That night, he says, 32 finalists will be chosen. Then the youthful performers will strut their stuff before a professional judging panel made up of local radio and television personalities and performers on stage at the Craterian theater. Each will be given five or six songs to learn in a short amount of time, says Glaser. "Some will be fast, some slow. It will be a mix of styles," he says. The 32 singers will be weeded down to the final eight on consecutive elimination nights Aug. 3-5. The "Southern Oregon Idol" winning songster will be chosen on Aug. 7 at the Craterian. Beginning at 8 p.m., audience members will listen to each contestant sing. And they will be the ones to weed the eight singers down to the final three. Then the five-panel judges will choose the winner. "That way no single contestant can stack the audience and win," says Nelson. Lindsey, a fan of the TV show, says he was already planning on attending a national "Idol" audition when this local opportunity presented itself. "If I make it through this, it will up my confidence and possibly give me a trip," he says. "It can’t hurt." Registration packets can be picked up at the Craterian box office or at KMVU-TV Fox 26 at 820 Crater Lake Ave. in Medford. Ticket prices vary for the August performances. For information, call the Craterian at 779-3000 or KMVU-TV at 772-2600. The contest deadline for entrants is Friday, says Nelson. "We’re expecting a late rush," says Nelson. "I’m sure there’s a lot of procrastinators out there like I was at that age." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times