March 20, 2008

San Jose Teen Idol! returns for second season

April competition to showcase local teen talent

Do you perform in your school choir or take singing lessons? Does your shower often double as a concert hall? Perhaps friends and family are always telling you "what a great voice you have." Here's your chance to share your talent with a wider audience. If you are 12-19 years old-and a resident of San José-then you can compete during the month of April for a chance to win San José Public Library's "San Jose Teen Idol" competition! Last year, more than 150 aspiring teen vocalists entered the competition.

Each branch library will host its own local neighborhood competition. Contestants will be judged based on vocal ability and stage presence. First, second and third place winners at each location will receive $50, $25 and $10, respectively. First place winners from each branch library will then go on to compete in the Grand Finale at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library on Saturday, May 17 from 2 - 4:30 p.m. The winner of this final competition will become the 2008 "San José Teen Idol.

The San Jose Teen Idol competition is sponsored in honor of National Library Week April 13-19. Complete rules are available at all San Jose libraries and online at www.sjlibrary.org/about/events/sj_idol.htm.

Please note an important change this year: you must be a resident of San Jose to enter. See below for a complete list of times and locations. Call or stop by today to register for a time slot. For more information, contact your neighborhood library or King Library Youth Services at (408) 808-2183.

You can compete at the following branches

- Rose Garden Branch, 1580 Naglee Ave., (408) 808-3070 on Thursday, April 10 from 3:30 - 5 p.m.
- Cambrian Branch, 1780 Hillsdale Ave., (408) 808-3080 on Saturday, April 12 from 2 - 4 p.m.
- Vineland Branch, 1450 Blossom Hill Rd., (408) 808-3000 on Saturday, April 12 from 3 - 5 p.m.
- Almaden Branch, 6445 Camden Ave., (408) 808-3040 on Saturday, April 19 from 3 - 5 p.m.
- Tully Community Branch, 880 Tully Rd., (408) 808-3030 on Friday, April 25, from 3:30 - 5 p.m.

In the recent San Jose Public Library's first ever Teen Tech Week Battle of the Bands, two of the winning group of 15-year-olds in Tracing Hearts attend Pioneer High School. Zack Langford, 15, on vocals and guitar and Brian Vosters, 15, on drums and vocals both attend Pioneer while Michael Hall, 15, on bass and vocals, attends Lincoln High. The group was included as featured artists in Metro’s centerfold calendar recently.