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talent contest

Meet the 11 finalists competing in Miami Valley Idol

Saturday’s performance will determine which five singers make finals.

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12:29 AM Friday, July 22, 2011

By Eric Robinette

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — And then there were 11.

For several weeks, the Miami Valley Idol talent contest has been singing away at Sorg Opera House, with the field getting smaller each time.

Now, just 11 contestants remain as Idol swings into its finals this weekend and next weekend.

On Saturday, the final 11 contestants will perform.

Then, through a combination of judges’ decision and audience vote, the field will be narrowed to five July 29. Here are the finalists:

Rick Allen

Allen, 24, of Trenton, is the country boy of the group, and he considers his best moment to be his performance of Garth Brooks’ “If Tomorrow Never Comes.”

“Normally we play with a backing track, but this was just me and a guitar,” he said of the performance. “I love to sing songs from the heart.”

Allen said he has his sights set on another talent contest. He said he plans to audition for the second season of NBC’s talent show “The Voice.”

Mike Brewer

Brewer, 41, of Loveland, came across Idol because he has a sales route through Middletown, and he seized on the opportunity to live his dream. He just didn’t know how far it would go.

“To be honest, I didn’t think I would make it this far,” said Brewer, who favors the music of Styx.

“I think I did very, very well when I did ‘Babe’ a couple weeks ago,” he said.

Ciara Childers

Childers, 16, of Middletown gravitates to R&B music, with her top performance so far being Etta James’ “Something’s Got a Hold On Me.”

As far as her singing goes, “I never really took it to the next level. Now I’ve gotten into it and I’m pumped up,” she said. If Miami Valley Idol goes well, she said she will audition for “American Idol.”

Martha Conn

Conn, 60, a longtime Middletown resident, said she entered Miami Valley Idol because of her fondness for its venue.

“I love singing and I love the Sorg theatre. I’ve sung all my life and decided, being 60 years old, that I would give it one last shot. It’s something fun to do in town.”

She said her best performance so far has been a rendition of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”

“I had family there and it was a very special night,” she said.

Michelle Faulkner

Michelle Faulkner, 37, of Middletown is the Miami Valley Idol veteran of the bunch, having competed in the 2009 contest. She didn’t get further than the top 10 last time, but as far as she is concerned, “the highlight is coming up. I’m singing with the band and practicing ‘Wild Night,’ ” she said, referring to the Van Morrison tune.

DJ Gardner

DJ Gardner, 19, of West Alexandria, had been in another singing competition prior to Idol, but decided to give a talent show another try.

“I’m a music major at Sinclair (Community College in Dayton). I sing all sorts of music from pop to R&B,” she said. Gardner said her best performance was a rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “Miss Independent.”

Ashes Kingsolver

Ashes Kingsolver, of Middletown, said Idol was a pick-her-up.

“I was kind of down on my music and staff, so I saw that ad and decided to do it,” she said.

For her, the high point was “my first performance, because I didn’t know anybody. I sang ‘Morrisey’ by Duffy.” After Miami Valley Idol, she said she plans to do some recording.

Barbara Valle

Barbara Valle, 19, of Middletown considered trying out for Idol two years ago, but said she couldn’t muster up the will. So when she saw Idol was on again she said, “now I can go to a bigger performance place, get some experience and have some fun.”

Her favorite performance of her own so far was her take on Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

Ashley Watson

Ashley Watson, 23, of Miamisburg, almost didn’t try out for Miami Valley Idol at all.

“It was a last-minute thing to do, and I thought ‘might as well,’ ” she said. She’s already an experienced singer, having played with the band 725. She specializes in 1970s rock, with the highlight so far being her performance of Janis Jolpin’s “Cry Baby” because, “I got to really show how I can sing.”

Win or lose, she said she plans to audition for “The Voice.”

Pam Yenser

Pam Yenser, of Middletown, knows the singing field especially well, having run her own business, Rare Form Karaoke, for more than 30 years.

“It’s all been great,” she said. “My favorite performance was when I sang a cowboy song (by Patsy Cline.) I yodeled in it and everyone went wild.”

If she wins, she said she plans to do some recording.

Kiyaa Bowens

Finalist Kiyaa Bowens could not be reached for comment.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.

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