‘Super Stars’ audition gives up to 30 students a chance

When former IU student Stephani Parker auditioned for Campus Super Star in 2005, she had no idea she would go on to win the entire talent competition. \nHer Campus Super Star competition win led her to compete in and win Chicago Idol, and perform with Babyface, Jamie Foxx and Chaka Kahn. Parker is currently recording a single with singer Kanye West.\n“Campus Super Star gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself,” Parker said. “It’s amazing to be able to make a great living doing something you’d do free for the rest of your life.” \nThe Helene G. Simon Hillel Center gave more potential stars their chance during tryouts for the fourth annual Campus Super Star Feb. 17 at the Jewish Community Center of Indianapolis.\nAnother audition was held Sunday at The DeVault Alumni Center, said Campus Super Star event chairperson Dick Leventhal. Up to 30 semifinalists were chosen to compete in the Semi-Final Elimination Show March 25 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, according to the Campus Super Star Web site. From the auditions, 24 semi-finalists were chosen from IU, three from Ball State University, one from Anderson University and one from IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis.\n“It was a great challenge to choose the semi-finalists at the Bloomington audition,” said Hillel Center Assistant Director Andy Gitelson. “More than 70 students tried out and the quality of their performances as a whole was much better than in previous years.”\nStudents enrolled in an accredited Indiana college or university were eligible to participate.\n“It’s a great way to reach out to Jewish and non-Jewish students, both on campus and across the state,” Gitelson said. \nParticipants sang a song of their choice a capella for 30 seconds to a minute for a panel of three judges during the audition, Leventhal said.\n“If you’re a vocalist, if you like to sing in the shower, if you like to sing at your church or synagogue, if you like to sing and you’re passionate about it, this is a great way to put your voice to the test,” Gitelson said.\nTen finalists will be chosen to perform in the final competition April 13 at the Madame Walker Theatre Center in Indianapolis, according to the Web site. The top five will be chosen by a panel of celebrity judges. The audience will vote to determine the grand prize winner. \nThe panel of judges for the tryouts was comprised of regional and local music experts. The final competition will have a panel of celebrity judges, including Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra President and chief executive officer Simon Crookall, WFYI Radio’s Opera Matinee producer and host Steven Stolen and former Miss Indiana and theater actress Jill O’Malia. \nThe winner of Campus Super Star will receive a grand prize of $5,000 and a one-year membership to the Jewish Community Center of Indianapolis, according to the Web site. Second- through fifth-place winners will receive $1,000 each and sixth- through 10th-place winners will each receive $100. All 10 finalists will receive one hour of recording time at the Bloomington Recording Company. \n“(With the prize money), I bought my band at the time costumes and got my independent CD completed,” Parker said. “I paid off some student loans and put some in the bank.” \nFriends, family and spectators can attend the semifinals for free, Leventhal said. Tickets for the final competition will cost between $20 and $25. Each of the 10 finalists will receive 20 free tickets for the final competition. \nParker encouraged all students – regardless of musical background – to try out for Campus Super Star. \n“Try out for as many things as you can,” Parker said. “Anybody who is interested in getting exposure should try out, even if they don’t win. You win from meeting different people. It’s such a diverse competition.”