Evanston Idol, held Saturday at the King Lab Magnet School, 2424 Lake St., brought a group of local talents to the stage in front of a packed auditorium. As Evanston Community Television’s fourth annual fundraiser, the event “was over the top this year,” said Cindy Cort, the show’s producer.
“Our show has really improved in quality over the years, and we met our goal of making Evanston Idol bigger and better than ever,” Cort said in an email.
After a two-day audition process in April, 12 contestants were selected to compete for the title. Ranging in age from 10 to 62 and in talent from hip-hop dance to Portuguese-ballad singing, the “Final 12” were judged by a three-person panel comprised of Allie Ellison and Jennifer Roberts of 97.1 FM The Drive, and Doug Nagel of The Beat Box , a local recording studio. The trio scored the contestants on originality, entertainment value and talent, though they also had their own criteria in mind.
“They’ve got to have that ‘it’ factor,” Roberts said. “They have to bring passion and show that they really want it.”
Nerves were running high before the curtain rose.
“Yes, I’m nervous,” contestant and 62-year-old Evanston resident Marty Kantor said. “I’m definitely the oldest here, probably the oldest in any ‘Idol’ competition, but by the time I get out there in front of the microphone, I’ll be fine. Like all of us, we’re thinking about our 15 minutes.”
The allotted 15 minutes of fame may even be extended for the winner of the competition. The first place prize package included Music Quest Entertainment’s assistance in creating a press kit to be circulated among its industry contacts, a one-hour session in a recording studio and a feature in Evanston’s Fourth of July Parade.
After all the performances and much deliberation on the part of the judges, the new Evanston Idol was crowned. Evonda Thomas, director of the Evanston Health Department, took home the first place title with her rendition of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” Praised for her rich gospel tone and emotion-filled presentation, Thomas said she was both grateful and humbled.
“I thank God because he blessed me with this talent,” Thomas said.
All 12 contestants will have another opportunity to be discovered when they perform in the Custer Fair on June 18.
“Yes, it is a small-town thing in the grand scheme of the world, but we’ve got talent,” Roberts said. “Someone’s got to find it, and they might as well start with Evanston.”
