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Get excited UK students! It’s a singing competition for UK students involving the standard ingredients of auditions, judges, online voting, prizes and a live audience.

You can be as involved as you want to be! Come to one of the audition times listed below and try out, come watch the show live in the Student Center Cat’s Den, or just watch it from your campus TV (Channel 49). Be sure to vote online for your favorite singer after every episode and tune back in the following week to see who gets the boot. In the end, one singer will remain. Could it be you?

Contestants

Chavea Clay Music Performance Freshman ELIMINATED	John Jenkins, Jr. Economics Sophomore ELIMINATED
Meaghan Mader Music Sophomore FINALIST	Eliza Oquaye Animal Science Freshman ELIMINATED
Marissa Pollock Music Performance Sophomore ELIMINATED	Katie Rittenhouse Pre-Clinical Laboratory Studies Sophomore ELIMINATED
Trevor Turner Business Freshman FINALIST	Sam Wooden Law Student ELIMINATED

Live Show Schedule

Rounds 1 – 4 will be held at the Student Center Cat’s Den starting at 8:00pm. The public is invited to attend!

Round 1: Thursday, February 4

Round 2: Thursday, February 11

Round 3: Thursday, February 18

Round 4: Thursday, February 25

Grand Finale (Results Show): Friday, March 5 @ Dance Blue – Memorial Coliseum

**All episodes will air live on Wildcat Student TV (channel 49) and be replayed each day at 4pm and 8pm on the channel.**

Judges

Brittany Benningfield

Brittany Benningfield, soprano, is one of the newest faces in the Masters program in Vocal Performance at the University of Kentucky. She received her undergrad degree in Music Education at Campbellsville University in 2008, graduating summa cum laude. Singing since the age of 5, Brittany has always felt at home in front of an audience: first at church, then small music shows around Kentucky, and now large and small stages around the eastern portion of the United States. Her background in country and gospel music influenced her to audition for the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts in 2001, where she was accepted and then came back to work with the program from 2004-2008. Her influence then turned classical, and she hasn’t turned back from the recital and opera stage since. Recent awards and honors include: Finalist in the Coca-Cola Talent Classic, Finalist for Dayton Opera Young Artist Program, Semi-finalist in the NATS regional auditions, C.U.’s Most Outstanding Senior Musician Award, guest soloist with choruses all over central Kentucky, and the first graduating senior to sing the Alma Mater at her graduation ceremony at C.U. In 2005, she performed as a soloist with the C.U. Chorale in the Berlin Cathedral in Berlin, Germany, as well as in Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Germany, the home church of J.S. Bach. She sang professionally with the Kentucky Opera in their production of Puccini’s Turandot in the Fall of 2007, and has performed lead roles in such famous operas as Carmen, Suor Angelica, Amahl and the Night Visitors, The Marriage of Figaro, and the Broadway musical Brigadoon. When not singing classically, Brittany teaches high school students private voice and sings in church and other music venues! She is honored and excited to be one of the judges for UK Star 2010!

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Sally Evans

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
Victor Hugo

Sally’s earliest memories involve singing Copacabana full throttle to her parents’ Barry Manilow record in her living room. Today, you will find her at the Violence, Intervention, and Prevention Center using her voice to end violence with the Green Dot Movement. Her other music-based inspirations include local theatre, including It’s A Grand Night for Singing and the rock opera, The Show, as well as professional voiceover work. Sally also writes and performs her own work in the Lexington music community and is a sucker for karaoke. Sally is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of UK Star!

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James Davidson

James D. Davidson, Jr. is a December 2009 graduate of the University of Kentucky and current special events coordinator for the Cats Den. During his time at UK, he was involved in many student activities; some of which included writing for the Kentucky Kernel, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Black Student Union and many other student leader boards. As former vice-president of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, James was a dedicated leader and constantly gave back to the UK community which gave him so much. In his spare time he enjoys all kinds of music, but especially has a soft spot for jazz; John Coltrane is his favorite saxophonist and his greatest hits album doesn’t leave his car. Coming from a family of musicians and a former trombone player himself, James has an intelligent ear for quality sound and looks forward to judging what he is sure to be a great group of contestants.

Prizes

First place:

• $150 in Flex Dollars (works like a debit card in all 23 Dining Services locations on campus including Starbucks®‚ Subway®‚ Chick-fil-A®‚ and three convenience stores.) – courtesy of UK Dining Services
• Sing the National Anthem at a variety of UK Athletics events to be determined at a later date.

Second Place:

• $75 in Flex Dollars - courtesy of UK Dining Services