Submitted photo Auditions will be held for the Big Sandy Singers on Tuesday, April 24, at the Big Sandy Community and Technical College Prestonsburg Campus. Those who are chosen from the audition process will receive a $2,500 scholarship to attend BSCTC and "excellent vocal performance and recording experience as well."

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By CHAD ABSHIRE

Staff Writer

If anyone has ever listened to someone sing and think, “Well, I could do that,” here’s a chance to prove it.

Auditions will be held for the Big Sandy Singers at Big Sandy Community and Technical College, on Tuesday, April 24, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Prestonsburg Campus, Pike Building, in Gearheart Auditorium.

The Big Sandy Singers is the elite, auditioned, student singing ensemble from Big Sandy Community and Technical College and Morehead State University on the BSCTC Campus, a press release stated. Those who are chosen from the audition process will receive a $2,500 scholarship to attend BSCTC and “excellent vocal performance and recording experience as well.”

Anyone interested in auditioning must be eligible to enroll at BSCTC or MSU for the Fall 2012 school year Graduating high school seniors, non-traditional students, current BSCTC students, and current MSU at BSCTC students are all welcome.

The Big Sandy Singers are directed by BSCTC Instructor and veteran Kentucky Opry member Laura Ford Hall, with Timothy Cooley - album producer and technical director, and Clayton Case, assistant director. The group performs approximately 30 shows each year for various civic functions and performs two major concerts at Christmas and in the spring, the release stated.

They have performed several times on WYMT, at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center and the Mountain Arts Center as well as many other venues. In the past, the Singers sang for Naomi Judd, Presidential Candidate John Edwards, and the Hal Roger’s PRIDE Envi Awards and more.

The group also takes shows into area high schools and elementary schools, presenting a “go to college” and “drug free” message with the Big Sandy Idol program. The students who sing in the Big Sandy Singers serve as ambassadors for the college, the release stated.

According to the release, anyone wishing to audition for the Big Sandy Singers should arrive at any time between the hours of 3 p.m. noon and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24. Auditionees will be taken into the audition on a first come, first served basis. Those auditioning should prepare one song (pop, country, or gospel style) with a karaoke track without lead vocals. Those auditioning will be judged on tone, pitch, vocal control, stage presence, blendability, and overall performance. Those who make it through the first round will be called-back for a second round for harmony singing on Thursday, April 26, but not all who audition will make it to the second round.

“We are excited about auditions this year,” Hall, said. “We have so much fun and this is such a wonderful experience for students. Eastern Kentucky is full of talent, and we can’t wait to hear what awaits us on April 24th. We have ten spots to fill, and we need the best talent we can find!”

For more information, call Hall at (606) 424-2498 or email her at laura.hall@kctcs.edu.