2009 TRIAD IDOL Finalists

Congratulations to the 2009 TRIAD IDOL Finalists!!

 

The 2009 TRIAD IDOL semi-finalists took the stage with gusto and gave fantastic performances on May 16 and 17! The judges and the audience (the "fifth judge") had a very tough time scoring the contestants. But in the end, 42 finalists (14 in each age group) pulled ahead of their competition and will be performing at 3 pm on Sunday, May 31, at the Carolina Theatre in downtown Greensboro:


Please be sure to come out and support your favorite finalists! The audience serves as the "fifth judge" at the Final Event.  Audience support is worth 20% of each contestant's score. By voting for your favorite contestants ($1/vote), you will help move them closer to being crowned the 2009 Triad Idol!

Click here for a coupon worth 50% off the price of tickets to the Final Event at the Carolina Theatre on May 31.

 

Meet the 2009 TRIAD IDOL finalists (ages 8-12)
Brandi Alden, who is 9 years old and a second-grader at J.V. Washam Elementary, lives in Cornelius, outside of Charlotte. In the semi-finals, Brandi sang, "Astonishing," from the Broadway musical, Little Women.
A third-grader at Murphy Traditional Academy, Ke'Avia Artis is 8 years old and lives in McLeansville. In the semi-finals, she sang, "Heaven."
Eleven-year-old Jordan Beaver traveled from Shelby to participate in TRIAD IDOL. Jordan is a fifth-grader at Union Elementary. She will attend the Neil Semer Vocal Institute in Germany this summer. In the semi-finals, Jordan sang, O Mio Babbino Caro (which translates to, "Oh my dear papa,") from Puccini's opera, Gianni Schicchi.
An 11-year-old from Concord, Chloe Durham is in the fifth grade at Boger Elementary. She sang, "Black Heart," in the semi-finals.
Greensboro resident Zachary Graham is 9 years old and in the fourth grade at Moorehead Elementary. He sang, "Scream," in the semi-finals.
Jacob Hammill is 12 years old and lives in Gold Hill in Cabarrus County. He attends Mt. Pleasant Middle School, where he's in the sixth grade. Jacob sang, "There's a Hero," at the semi-finals.
Abby Hayes of Asheboro is 11 years old. A fifth-grader at Southmont Elementary, Abby sang, "The Climb," in the semi-finals.
CiCi Jansen is 12 years old and lives in Cornelius, outside of Charlotte. She is finishing sixth grade at Lincoln Charter School in Denver and recently won an opportunity to record a demo for Jive Records. CiCi sang, "Anyway," in the semi-finals.
Liston Kidd is 10 years old and lives in High Point. He is in the fourth grade at Wesleyan Christian Academy, where he recently won the "Christian Character" and "Best Male Vocalist" awards. Liston sang, "Amazing Grace," in the semi-finals. Liston's 17-year-old brother, Gray, and his Dad, Grady, are also 2009 TRIAD IDOL finalists!
Nine-year-old home-schooler William Peterson lives in Summerfield. This fourth-grader sang, "Burnin' Up," in the semi-finals.
Greensboro's Carissa Puppo is 9 years old. She's a fifth-grade home-schooler. In the semi-finals Carissa sang, Pie Jesu, from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem.
Twelve-year-old Julia Solomon lives in Greensboro, where she is a sixth-grader at Canterbury School. Julia sang "Popular," from the Broadway musical, Wicked, in the semi-finals.
Reidsville's own Jacob Vaughan is 9 years old and in the third grade at Community Baptist School. In the semi-finals, he sang, "I Choose To Live."
Nine-year-old Logan Welborn lives in Lewisville. A fifth-grader at Forsyth Country Day School, Logan sang, "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows," in the semi-finals.

 

Meet the 2009 TRIAD IDOL finalists (ages 13-18)
Sixteen-year-old Will Allen lives in Kernersville, where he attends East Forsyth High. He sang, "Wonderful World," in the semi-finals.
Pfafftown's Adam Barrett is 13 years old and is in seventh grade at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Winston-Salem. Adam sang, "Feeling Good," in the semi-finals.
Rural Hall's Dionna Daniel is 14 years old. A 2008 TRIAD IDOL finalist, Dionna is an eighth-grader at Northwest Middle School in Winston-Salem. She sang, "Get Here," in the semi-finals.
Priscilla Gray is 16 years old and lives in Sophia. A sophomore at Randleman High, Priscilla sang, "Broken Wing," in the semi-finals.
Rural Hall's Jimmie "JJ" Jeter is 15 years old and attends North Forsyth High. A 2008 TRIAD IDOL finalist, JJ sang, "Heaven Only Knows," in the semi-finals.
Gray Kidd is 17 years old and lives in High Point, where he is a senior at High Point Central High. In the semi-finals, he sang, "On the Street Where You Live," from My Fair Lady. Gray's 10-year-old brother, Liston, and his Dad, Grady, are also 2009 TRIAD IDOL finalists!
Eighteen-year-old Greensboro resident James Liebmann is a junior at Caldwell Academy. In the semi-finals, he sang, "Sway."
Eighteen-year-old Andria Lowman lives in Eden, where she works at Ruby Tuesday. She sang, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," in the semi-finals.
Ashley Lowry, a 15-year-old from Kernersville, is a freshman at Wesleyan Christian Academy. She sang, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," in the semi-finals.
Fifteen-year-old Anna Belle Lusk is a ninth-grade home-schooler who lives in Cornelius, outside of Charlotte. In the semi-finals, she sang, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," from The Wizard of Oz.
Brenna Martin traveled the farthest of all TRIAD IDOL 2009 participants—she lives in Dalton, Georgia! This 16-year-old, who attends Northwest Whitfield High, sang, "Gravity," in the semi-finals.
Greenville's Mackenzie Roberts is a 16- year-old junior at South Central High in Winterville. In the semi-finals, Mackenzie sang a medley of Nat "King" Cole and Natalie Cole songs—"Orange Colored Sky," "Paper Moon," and "L-O-V-E."
Fifteen-year-old Clayton Stephenson lives in Charlotte, where he is a ninth-grader at Northwest School of the Arts. He sang, "Feeling Good," in the semi-finals.
Curtis Moore-Tate is 16 years old and lives in Greensboro, where he is a junior at Grimsley High. He sang, "Open Arms," in the semi-finals.

 

Meet the TRIAD IDOL finalists (ages 19+)
Marielou Apilat lives in Kernersville, but she spends most of her time in Guilford County—either attending Guilford Tech or working at Four Seasons Town Centre. In the semi-finals, Marielou sang, "Listen," from the movie and Broadway musical, Dreamgirls.
Smithfield's Jennifer Browne is a loving mom to 2-year-old Lucas and a wonderful wife to her husband Stephen.  She worships at Midway Baptist in Raleigh. In the semi-finals, Jennifer sang, "Beautiful Disaster."
Not only has Greensboro's Quinton Bynum been named a TRIAD IDOL finalist for all five seasons, he also was a local American Idol finalist when the show held auditions in Greensboro several years ago. Quinton, who works at Subway, sang, "My, My, My," in the semi-finals.
This is the third time that Ashley Davis of High Point has been named a TRIAD IDOL finalist! She recently signed with Starmount Records. Ashley sang, "At Last," in the semi-finals.
Marlon Gaskins of Lexington works at Leggett & Platt's Customer Care Center and sings in the choir at New Jersey AME Zion Church. He sang, "Always and Forever," in the semi-finals.
High Point's Grady Kidd joins his sons—10-year-old Liston and 17-year-old Gray—as a 2009 TRIAD IDOL finalist. Creative Arts Pastor at Lexington Community Church and Assistant Vice President with Bank of America in High Point, Grady sang, "Time and Dreams," in the semi-finals.
In addition to working at Towne Jewelers, Katelyn Marks of Winston-Salem also works with people with disabilities and serves as a makeup artist for J&A Photography. She made it to the fourth round of American Idol this season (so she sang for Simon and the gang!). In the semi-finals, Katelyn sang, "Broken Wing."
Greensboro resident LaShawn Millner is a three-time TRIAD IDOL finalist. He attends Guilford Tech and works at Aetna Health Insurance in High Point. In the semi-finals, LaShawn sang, "Closer."
The proud mom of 8-year-old Ka'derius, Shantel Norman lives in Lexington, where she works at Vitacost.com. She sang, "No More Drama," in the semi-finals.
Years ago, Justin Oliver of Jamestown played a Munchkin in CTG's production of The Wizard of Oz, and just look at him now! A graduate of Liberty University with a degree in Musical Theatre, Justin works at NewBridge Bank in Archdale. He sang, "She's Got a Way," in the semi-finals.
Second runner-up in TRIAD IDOL 2008, Bobby Pittman of Greensboro has been performing non-stop with the Community Theatre of Greensboro ever since. The father of beautiful twin daughters, Bobby works at Cross Fluid Power. In the semi-finals, Bobby sang, "This Is a Man's World."
Nicole Rapisardi lives in Advance and works at Cherries Cafe in Clemmons. She sang, "Settlin'," in the semi-finals.
Three-time TRIAD IDOL finalist Chrissy Simpson of Greensboro loves singing almost as much as she loves talking (and that's a lot!)! Chrissy works at Click-n-Cuts in High Point. In the semi-finals, she sang, "Footprints in the Sand."
Niccole Stephens of High Point has seven children—four of whom were on-hand to cheer for her at the semi-finals! Niccole works at Dental Works in Winston-Salem and worships at Cornerstone Church, where she also serves as choir director. In the semi-finals, Niccole sang, "I Believe in You and Me."