BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - June 28, 2010 -- Beech Bend is closer to finding their "Superstar" of 2010, as the park found two more talented young singers in their fourth week of auditions. Fourteen year old Amber Sewell of Bullitt County, KY and 8 year old Dominique Dy of Hendersonville, TN were the top scorers of Saturday's competition and will advance to compete in the September 11 finale of the season long singing competition.
Saturday's show featured thirteen contestants and a surprise visit and impromptu performance from Nashville recording artist Jeremy Parsons, who braved the nearly 100 degree heat to follow the contestants with a performance of his current radio single "Doggondest Feelin'." Parsons also headlined a judging panel of entertainment industry vets including PCG, Inc. co-founder Bernard Porter, Charlie and Sandra Walls of the Bardstown Opry, and Nashville radio host and event promoter Chris Yates.
Sewell, who was performing for the second time at the park's contest, wowed the judging panel with a strong rendition of Martina McBride's "Broken Wing", while the diminutive Dy impressed the judges with a crowd stopping performance of the Mariah Carey hit, and remake of the Jackson Five classic song "I'll Be There".
Both contestants are no strangers to competition success. Sewell was the 2008 Renfro Valley Child Country & Gospel vocalist of the year and has already recorded a full length gospel CD, while Dominique Dy has performed in two productions with the Nashville Opera in addition to winning first place in the child division at the Tennessee State Fair during 2009.
Both contestants will join five competitors from the previous three weeks of competition who were weekly winners, in addition to the remaining weekly audition winners of the park's contests to be held in July and August. Contestants of Superstar are judged on presentation, delivery, and personality and after all five judges deliberated on Saturday, Dy and Sewell finished with a tied score.
Superstar is co-produced by the park's director of ticket sales Sherry Harper Clouse, and Kentucky radio personality and event promoter David Gary. According to Gary, the show has seen its popularity take a sharp rise in 2010. "Each week I get more emails and phone calls of people wanting to know about the show, and how to sign up, than the entire season of 2009. Sherry and I spend a lot of time searching the Internet for videos of talented folks competing at fairs, festivals, contests, and even church events, and invite them from as far away as Florida to compete. As a result, and in addition to pairing up with music industry icons like Bernard Porter and the great people at PCG Nashville, we have not only had a lot of fun, but we have been able to showcase a pretty high level of talent this season." said Gary after Saturday's event.
Beech Bend will take a break from the weekly Superstar show for the July 4th holiday, but will resume weekly auditions July 10th on Saturdays at the Bowling Green, KY theme park. Contestants who are interested in participating can find information on how to sign up at the park's website.
Information provided by David Gary, DGP Entertainment Contact: 270-308-0764