When yet another auction doesn’t fit the same old bill for a signature fundraiser, what’s a Vashon nonprofit to do? In the case of Voice of Vashon, create a contest for islanders to vote for “The Voice (of Vashon).”
So, Voice of Vashon’s (VoV) first singing contest will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Open Space for Arts &Community. Doors will open at 5 p.m.
With a nod toward the television show “The Voice,” VoV fashioned its own version of the popular contest. On March 15, the nonprofit held auditions for island singers, who sent in MP3s or showed up at the station for an in-person, open tryout.
“We got an amazing response,” said Melodie Woods, VoV board member and mastermind of the event. “We didn’t know how others would respond, but we got tons of people. It was good and will be a fun show.”
VoV chose 24 contestants, with seven between the ages of 15 and 24. Two singers, one youth and one from the over 24 year-old category, will ultimately be selected as the winner — as “The Voice” (of Vashon.)
Each singer will receive a Golden Microphone award with their name engraved on it, a live performance spot at First Friday Live on the Highway in the KVSH Storefront Studio, the opening gig for the annual October KVSH Birthday Bash and, of course, fame and adulation from fellow islanders.
The show, Woods said, will be run in “Vashon’s inimitable fashion.” In the first round, island celebrity musicians Ian Moore, Martin Feveyear, Star Anna and V. Contreras will judge the singers. Like their counterparts on “The Voice,” the island judges will have their backs to the stage, listening without knowing by sight or name who is singing. When the singer finishes, the judges will turn around and ask questions for several minutes. Then during intermission, the four judges will choose four finalists for each category. Each final contestant will sing a cover song of their choosing, either a cappella, with their own instrument or accompanied by the house band organized by VoV Musical Director Loren Sinner.
For the second round, audience members will have ballots to vote for their favorite finalist. While ballots are collected, Sinner will play music, and the winning raffle ticket — offering a package of concert tickets and restaurant dinners — will be drawn. The crowning moment of the evening will be the announcement of the two winners.
As for the ticket prices, Woods said VoV felt strongly about keeping the price low.
“In keeping with VoV as ‘the nonprofit that serves all of our nonprofits,’ we didn’t want to do a costly event with a high ticket price and an enormous amount of volunteer work. We were looking for fun,” she said. “My background is in advertising, so I wanted something that would brand our organization. That’s how ‘The Voice’ came about. We are really looking forward to the event.”
Tickets are $30 for reserved seating, $20 for general admission and $10 for children ages 12 and under.
Tickets are sold at brownpapertickets.com and at Vashon Bookshop.
