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Over 400 people came out to witness the 1st Annual Seize the Mic Contest at the Waterville Opera House on Saturday, April 7. 22 contestants took the stage and the three top performers walked away with a total of $600 in cash prizes:
Finals: April 7, 7:30pm at the Waterville Opera House
Tickets: $8 ($6 Seniors/Youth); Call 873-7000
Prizes:
First place: $300; Second place: $200; Third place: $100 
Semi-finalists | Qualifying Locations | Eligibility & Performance Rules Semi-finalists
1. Amie Bailey
Amie is 25 years old and lives right here in the great city of Waterville. She has been singing and actively competing for the past 5 years. She just returned from a competition in Pigeon Forge, TN, where she represented the Downeast Country Music Association, and she performed last year in Downtown Nashville.
2. Emily French
Emily lives in Anson with her boyfriend, Chris, and their twin daughters, Annabelle and Madalynne. She enjoys singing and playing the guitar. She wants to offer a special thanks to Midnight Blues Club for making one of her dreams come true.
3. Angela Pacheco-Jimenez
Angela lives in Waterville and is the single mother of 6 beautiful children. She has been singing since before she could talk and smiling since before she could walk. She started singing karaoke 9 years ago and has been hooked ever since.
4. Scott Mongeau
Scott, nicknamed Boom Boom by his friends after surviving an explosion in 2002, currently lives in Livermore Falls. He has been singing for about 4 years and is a single father of two beautiful children who love singing as much as he does.
5. Jenny Everlith
Jenny was born the youngest of 9 children and lives in Albion. She has been singing longer than she can remember and has performed at Nashville's Wild Horse Saloon while employed at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. She has also done background recording for some Canadian artists and is currently employed at Citadel Broadcasting.
6. Kylie Caprio
Kylie is 24 years old and lives in Augusta. She grew up in Connecticut and moved to Maine to raise a family. When she was younger she loved to sing in theater and competitions. After having a baby six months ago, it's a rare occurrence to have the spotlight on her. In her own words, “it is nice to shine again!”
7. Mariah Buckley
Mariah is a senior at Colby College (and a MAINE NATIVE!!) and is double majoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies. She is one of the leaders of the Colby South End Coalition and loves working with kids, signing, dancing, and making people laugh. After she graduates, she will be attending law school, specializing in child advocacy.
8. Philip Chute
Phil is a disabled Vietnam veteran who lives in Waterville and works as a shipper and receiver at K & D Display and Design in Oakland. Phil writes and sings original songs while playing his 12 string guitar. In his own words, entertaining is a passion that he “can't seem to get enough of.”
9. Jimmy Lessard
Jimmy is 24 years old and works at GNC. He has returned to Maine after living in Florida for five years. Music has always been a part of his life. He writes and records his own music during his spare time and refers to it as his favorite “outlet.” Music is the only time he feels alive and able to express himself.
10. Cassandra Dumont
Cassandra lives in Clinton and has been singing since she was 5 years old. She loves to travel, sing, and dance. She is a hair stylist and a CAN, and the most important things in her life are her music, her home, and her mom.
11. Anthony Scribner
Anthony was born an Army brat in Frankfurt, Germany. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Anthony served in the Iraq war until he was injured in combat and returned to the U.S. to begin anew. Anthony has been a bull rider for some time and is currently attending Unity College, working towards a degree in Conservation Law Enforcement.
12. Cindy St. Amand
Cindy lives in Winslow, where she was born and raised. She has two beautiful boys, Dylan and Travis, and a wonderful husband, Mark. She started singing in church when she was 8 years old and has loved it ever since. She enjoys playing basketball, skiing, and karate. She offers a special thanks to Waterville Main Street for all the fun contestants have had and continue to have throughout this contest.
13. Joel Dupre
Joel lives in Canaan with his wife and son and has worked in Belfast for over 7 years. Trained as a classical violinist, Joel toured Europe at age 15 with America's Youth In Concert, played with various symphonies and was ranked 2 nd in New England by the Fiddlers Association from 1977-1981.
14. Rick Louten
The youngest of six kids, Rick was born in Augusta, Maine and has been singing karaoke for 8 years. He has appeared in the Colgate Country Showdown for the past three years and achieved two Top-10 finishes. In addition to karaoke, Rick's hobbies include sports, working out, and riding motorcycles.
15. Lisa Breton
Lisa lives in Vassalboro with her husband, Donald, and is the mother of two children, Justin and Jessica. Lisa is the co-owner of Studio 60 Hair and Skin Care Salon of Waterville and is a Winslow High School graduate. She enjoys, crafts, singing, and going for walks with her puppy, Bobo.
16. Martinus Anton Smith
“Toney” was born in Henderson, Texas and was raised around the sounds of the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan from Oak Cliff, Texas. A lover of all music genres, Toney currently lives in Sidney and is the father of three beautiful children.
17. Sheryl Vaillancourt
Sheryl lives in Waterville and is the proud mother of two beautiful, talented children, Branda and Anthony. She has been singing since she was a child – in church, with her grandmother at her piano, and in a pageant in 1983. Her inspirations range from Melissa Etheridge to Patsy Cline.
18. Josh Hunt
Josh lives in Fairfield and works as the Director of Athletics at Unity College, where he heads Men's Basketball. Josh has been performing on stage since he was 12 years old when he played the lead in the musical, “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Josh was a member of the Fairfield Center United Methodist Church youth and adult choirs.
19. Mel McDougal
Mel lives in Waterville and grew up on The Apple Farm in a family full of musicians. She attended Lawrence High School and currently works for U.S. Cellular as a retail wireless consultant.
20. Neil Nalley
Neil is originally from Connecticut and currently resides in Lewiston. A few years ago Neil was the front man for X-phactor, one of Maine's leading rock bands. Since retiring from the band, Neil keeps in touch with his musical skills by playing guitar and singing karaoke.
21. Wendy Pinkham
Wendy lives in Madison with her husband, Jim, and 14 year old son, Dylan. She started singing just for fun 5 years ago at a bar in Madison and has been working toward a more professional venue for the past two years. She offers special thanks to Waterville Main Street for this opportunity and wishes good luck to all of the competitors.
22. Stacy Lupo
Stacy Lupo, 38, lives in St. Albans with his wife, Michele, and 10 year old daughter, Nikole. A professional kick boxer, Stacy finished first place as male vocalist in new country at the Downeast Country Music Association State competition, winning him a spot in the national competition in Pigeon Forge, TN. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, camping and motorcycling.
Back to Top Qualifying locations:
Tuesday, 3/13 9pm Midnight Blues Club, Waterville
Wednesday, 3/21 9pm Bob In, Waterville
Thursday, 3/22 9pm Bootleggers Tavern, Waterville
Wednesday, 3/28 9pm Mainely Brews Tavern, Waterville
Thursday, 3/29 9pm Coyote Country, Oakland
Back to Top Eligibility & Performance Rules
These rules are subject to change or modification at any time without notice. (Download a pdf version of the rules.)
- All contestants must be 15 or above.
- There will be 5 qualifying nights prior to the finals.
- Each contestant may only qualify for the semi-finals once.
- Any contestant that does not qualify one night is able to enter another qualifying round to try again.
- Registration fee for each contestant at each venue is $5.
- Each contestant must enter as a solo act (no duets, etc.).
- Contestants may sing the same song as another contestant.
- Contestants are not allowed to use live props. This includes singers or dancers.
- Contestants must sing from the designated area.
- Contestants will sing one judged song.
- Contestants, their family or associates are not allowed to have contact of any kind with any judge during the contest.
- Contestants, their family or associates who exhibit offensive behavior during any portion of the contest will be disqualified from further competition and will nullify that contestant's score. This includes whining or complaining to another contestant, patron, employee, or the judges. Please conduct yourself in a dignified manner. The judges' decisions are final.
- Contestants must be present when the winners are announced to qualify.
- The order that each contestant competes will be determined by random drawing.
- Contestants are entitled to their individual scores only. A contestant may receive his or her score from the judges after the contest has ended and the winners are announced.
- All performances must be done in good taste. No music or lyrics that the judges or host venue consider to be offensive may be performed.
- Selected songs must last no longer than 4 minutes or the song will be cut off.
- Contestants who encounter malfunction of the equipment have the option of starting over. Examples: feedback, skipping of disc, etc.
- Use or possession of weapons, excessive alcohol or non-prescription controlled substances by the contestants will not be permitted at any time during the competition.
- Top contestants from each venue will be chosen to compete in the semi-final round. The judges will determine the qualifiers and the audience will vote by ballot for 1 favorite qualifier.
- Decisions of the judges are final.
- Each contestant will be judged on a 50 point system as follows:
- Vocal Ability (rhythm, pitch, phrasing) (1-20 points)
- Stage Presence (movement, confidence, style) (1-10 points)
- Entertainment Value (audience response, reaction) (1-20 points)
Finals
- Qualifiers from each host location will be invited to compete in the semi-final round.
- Semi-final and final rounds will be held on the same night, April 7th, 2007 at the Waterville Opera House. Approximately 20 semi-finalists will be chosen.
- Each semi-finalist will perform one judged song.
- Judges will announce the three finalists who will perform a second song (different from the first).
- Prizes will be awarded for First, Second & Third place to be determined by the judges and announced that evening.
Please do not enter the contest if you will be unable to attend the finals on April 7th, 2007.
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