Joshua Chapman of Smithville won the DeKalb Idol talent competition Friday night at the DeKalb County Fair. The event is sponsored by DTC Communications.
Chapman, who was among the top ten, made it to the finals and beat out two other singers, Elizabeth Koegler of Smithville and Christy Dannels of Silver Point to claim the top honor with his performance of the Rascal Flatts song “Changed”. Chapman received $300 and a trophy.
Koegler finished in second place and won the “People’s Choice Award”. For finishing as the runner-up, Koegler received $200 and a ribbon. She also claimed $150 as the People’s Choice fan favorite.
Dannels took home third place, winning $100 and a ribbon.
Rounding out the top ten were Hope Valenta of McMinnville, Kathy Duggin of Dowelltown, Adam Overstreet of Elmwood, Autumn Monroe of Maryville, Becky Reagan of Livingston, Alison Ferguson of Carthage, and Leanna Firestone of Algood.
The biggest change in this year’s DeKalb Idol competition was in the audition process. Interested contestants auditioned at a designated site on the fairgrounds on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights . Contestants performed a 30 second segment of a song, a cappella, which was filmed by DTC3. The auditions were also shown live outside the audition venue on video screens provided by DTC TV.
At the end of the three-night audition, the top ten contestants were notified on Thursday and returned to perform a full song during the competition on Friday night. Video highlights of the week’s auditions were shown to the live audience during the competition. The top three finalists, Chapman, Koegler, and Dannels were selected from the top ten, and each performed a different song in front of both the judges and the live audience.
Contestants were scored on vocal ability, stage presence, appearance and audience response by judges who all had connections to the music industry.
Meanwhile, Tim Holmes of Smithville and Keith Reynolds of Liberty each won $500 in cash at the fair Friday night.
The following events are scheduled Saturday night:
Saturday, July 27: Horseshoe Tournament at the Tot Kelly barn at Noon.; Gospel Singing at the Lions Club Pavilion at 6:00 p.m.; Super Tractor and Truck Pull at 7:00 p.m. at the T.C. McMillen Arena: and (2- $500 cash drawings) at 9:30 p.m.
Take a stroll down Memory Lane and enjoy nightly entertainment at the Memory Lane Stage in Memory Village, sponsored by DeKalb Community Bank.
The DeKalb County Fair Memory Lane Stage Line-Up is as follows:
•Saturday Night July 27
6:30-7:30 pm— Mid State Cloggers
7:45-8:45 pm— Evermean Evergreen Cloggers
8:45 – until— ZONE STATUS
Visit the food booths and view exhibits in the Kenneth Sandlin Center and Commercial building.
Rides on the Midway will be provided by the Family Attractions Amusement Company.
Ride Arm Band Prices:
Saturday:$18
Admission to the fair is $4.00 per person. Children age four and younger will be admitted free! Gates open at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Parking is Free!
For more information, call 529-FAIR or visit on-line at www.dekalbcountyfairtn.com.