Now the winners…
September 5th, 2007, 9:17 pm · 21 Comments · posted by marnold
Melody invited all the performers onstage for the vote reveal. She had the crowd yelling for their favorites.
3rd Place - $200 and a one song demo
Skip DeCarr
2nd Place- $300 and a one song demo
Amanda Gould
1st Place - $500 and a one song demo
Thomas Ogilvie
Great job everyone!!
I had a blast blogging the Yuma Star competition! Thanks everyone for hangin in there with me. See you next time, hopefully!
September 6th, 2007 at 8:28 am
I want to say thank you to everyone who stuck by me over the last year. Your support is truly inspiring. I wold also like to thank the Yuma Sun for not only taking a chance on me last year, but giving me another shot again this year. You guys are models of professionalism. I want to give special recognition to all of the contestants who competed this year. Everyone is amazingly gifted, and my hopes is to see everyone out again next year. I can already tell I’m going to have a tough choice to make. Once again, thank you. God bless everyone!
September 6th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Sorry for the typing error. It should say would not wold. Thanks again!
September 6th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Hey Thomas is it true that you bribed your students with extra credit if they would come out and vote for you?
September 6th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
yes it was true i was there and he said that out lad so he knows thats the only reason why he won he knows he needed more than plain talent (witch he did not have besides even the blogers gave him low score .you know tomas who you tell that sang better then you by far.
September 7th, 2007 at 5:26 am
Thomas you did great! You put on a heck of a show. You would have won my vote but i had to vote for myself. Congrats!
September 7th, 2007 at 7:00 am
i’m sorry, but the bloggers just had their own opinions, they were NOT judges. tom, you did a great job, you were the best performer by far. for those typing the mean comments, i hope you feel better now that you’ve posted tasteless comments on here.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Tom,
You did a great job, despite what others may say. I was there too and not once did you tell the kids to vote for you, but you recognized them. There is nothing wrong with being proud of who you are and letting people know that you care for your students. Those who have mean things to say just were disappointed that their friend or relative didn’t win. It was a difficult choice as there was so much talent, but when it came to over all performance you took the cake! Keep up the good work both personally and professionally.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
My niece is one of Toms students. The students recieved extra credit if they went to the performance, not to vote for him, and according to her (my niece) there were students who voted for other people. Tom encourages his students to go to all sorts of music events to help them grow as individuals and if it takes giving them a chance for a bit of extra credit to get them to go… I say go for it! The kids gain more from these experience’s than from what little extra credit they may get for music class.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
It was great seeing everyone perform. I enjoyed watching all the contestants. I do believe however that some had more talent than others. I also trully believe that Thomas is a great entertainer but lacks the vocal support that other contestants had. He picked a good song that kept the crowd snapping their fingers. At the end of his song however tha’ts all I could remember. His voice was not as amazing as some of the others. Lucky for him, he brought alot of voters. Good luck to everyone next year.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Everybody should remember the top three winners were chosen by 50% judge’s choice, 50% popular vote. You could bring all the votes you want, but if the judges don’t think you have talent, you’re not going to place high. That’s designed to have the best of both worlds represented - qualified judges, and the enthusiasm of the crowd.
The field of contenders was packed for the finals - great job to everybody. Skip, Amanda and Thomas all gave great performances. I also happened to love Clay’s, Marisol’s, Jason (my vote) and Sheryl’s.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
To the commenter obove me (Ruth). It is great to know that a teacher like Thomas encourages their students to attend musical activities. You are right these events are wonderful for all students to attend. I’m glad to know that Thomas did not tell his students to vote for him and instead wanted them to pic their favorite. I do believe however, that by him telling his students to attend for extra credit, it is understood that his students would vote for him becuase they have a repor with him. I dont think that there is anything wrong with having his students there. It was a resource and he was smart for using it In the end I think that pure talent should have been the only consideration. A higher percentage for the judges (more than 50%) making the decision based solely on a good performance.
September 7th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
I give Sarah Rico props for singing one of her own songs. I think that the song was very beautiful and it touched my heart. I believe she will go places someday. She is a very talented girl who sings straight from her heart. All the best to her. Every one did an amazing job. Yuma has such great talent! I can’t wait to see what talent we will have next year.
September 7th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
yes i would have to say Sarah Rico was one of the best. I mean, she writes her own songs and just to be able to sing them to people takes guts and so much talent. she showed that this show was more then just some Karaoke fest! maybe we should have a different kind of talent contest were people write and sing there own songs instead of doing it all karaoke.
also Thomas Oglvie or however you spell his last name wasnt even voted by the people into the finals. he was picked by the newspaper because he didnt make it. then he tells his students to come to the show for extra credit and thats ok but im SURE he knew that if he told them to come they would most likly vote for him. and im sure they got something out of him winning as well. maybe a little pizza party…… this show needs to become more then a popularity contest. it just over shadows the real talent.
September 7th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Congrats to all of our finalists! I was dancing and singing along to every song. The contest is structured in a way that a popularity vote is only part of the outcome, qualified judges carry 50%. We have an audience excited to be there to have a hand in the decision AND we have confidence that talent counts for 50%. Beyond controversy, I am proud to be a part of a contest that offers the opportunity for locals to sing to a captive audience and have the publicity they deserve. Each finalist earned their time in the spot light.
September 7th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
I just moved to Yuma and will listening to the finals, I will have to agree that there were some very, very strong singers. However, I did not agree with the placings. Coming from another town that also puts on a show similar to Yuma Star, ANY performer that makes the finals may NOT try out again for the next year. This way, it keeps things fair and eliminates controversy. Yuma Star should do something similiar. If anything, the contestants that placed the year before should NOT be able to compete again. They had their moment, let someone else have theirs!
Thomas was a fun performer with…..a LOT of confidence yet here are the facts. He was NOT voted through by the public and was a WILD CARD. He was NOT as strong of a performer as some of the others with his vocal range and pitch.
50% audience and 50% judges is not as fair as what some may think. It is basically saying 50% POPULARITY vote and 50% can they actually sing vote. The percentages need to be 80% judge and 20% public OR only have the judges choose the final 3! The judges votes should also be more specific when it comes to the catagories and percentages. For example, 10% audience participation, 50% singing ability, 20% stage presence, 20% vocal range or choice of song. AND THE AUDIENCE SHOULD KNOW OF THIS.
I would like to compete next year but if it is going to be the 2nd place winner of the previous year gets 1st place the next, then I will NOT have any part of it and this is what the competition is looking like.
September 8th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
i was very happy about this contest because i know alot of talented people was compiting but once it got to the final three i was so disapinted specially because the greatest singers where no even taken in consideration for example third shuld have been marisol, second skip decarr and first kelly they where the most qualify singers marisol would have win but i know knowin she sang in spanish was a obstacule but she has the best voice of all even tom knows cause she told her i was sitting behind them and could hear that so i hope next year this contest is so much interesting and more new faces.
September 8th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
who is KELLY? did you mean KATIE?
September 10th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Visitor,
There were juding sheets that broke it down as you mentioned, as stated in the emcee’s intro of each round. I’m sorry you feel that it is only rewarding if you win. The event is so much more than the $500 cash.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:43 am
to mistalynn yes is true that the show is more than the prize but also is so ugly that all the good singers go to all to find out a bad singer gets to get the glory im sure that if some one with more talent would have won no body would have said anythingand you know visitor is right people that have won aready should not be compiting the following year that just make it look like a reunion not a contest of new talent
September 12th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
yes that is true. people who have previously won should not be able to compete again.
October 21st, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Betty, I did not say that I feel it is only rewarding if you win but there are other things that need to be taken into consideration as I mentioned previously! The final 3 were NOT the most talented singers. Sorry, but it’s true.