5 FINALISTS HEADED FOR PIG GIG - (Front) Jenna Moeggenborg and Kate Gembrowski. (Back L/R) John Cudworth, Kalei Souza and Steve Armstrong.
Michigan Challenge (IDOL) Five Finalists Named at Stables
Five Singers Will Perform at Pig Gig on Friday Night 5:30PM
August 2, 2007
By: O. J. Cunningham
Everyone was a winner, said chief judge Mike Sheets, immediately after announcing the five (5) finalists (that's right, five)in the Michigan Challenge (IDOL) competition at Stables on Wednesday night.
Steve Armstrong, Kate Gembrowski, Kalei Souza, John Cudworth and Jenna Moeggenborg advanced to the Finals after performances at Stables in front of a capacity crowd.
These five will next perform Friday Night at 5:30pm at the Pig Gig. A Grand Champion will be crowned Friday night and that singer will perform again on Sunday.
The original plan called for four (4) to advance to the Finals. But according to Sheets, there was just no way to cut the field to four. "After 4 weeks of competition," said Sheets, "It was a flat out tie for the 4th spot."
Michigan Challenge (IDOL) Judges conferred in private after the competition. (L/R) Mike Sheets, Carrie VanDell and Ron Graham (in the peace/love headband)came up with 5 finalists after reviewing four weeks of competition results. "This was a very difficult procedure," said Mike Sheets. "Everyone here tonight was a winner."
The judges quickly conferred with Stables Manager John Buehl and decided to send five to sing at the Pig Gig on Friday.
"There is just no way to just flip a coin or something like that to eliminate a performer," Sheets said. "These singers have worked so hard this summer to get to this point," Sheets went on. "It's a good thing to send five to the Pig Gig Finals."
There was a mixture of joy and relief among performers after the "Final Five" were announced.
"Everyone's deserving," said
Steve Armstrong. "There were so many great performances tonight. It's a great feeling right now to be one of the finalists. I'm looking forward to Friday night."
"You just gotta lay it out on the line and hope for the best," said
John Cudworth. "I feel like I just knocked it out of the park."
"This is just so wonderful, amazing. I'm so happy. Better . . . a lot better than San Diego," said
Kate Gembrowski.
"This is one of the greatest things I've ever done. I can hardly wait to sing in front of the big crowd at the Pig Gig," said
Jenna Moeggenborg.
"I have no words. I'm just so happy, said
Kalei Souza.
Below:(Left) Michigan Challenge Finalist - Kalei Souza - Performing "Killing Me Softly." (Right) Michigan Challenge Finalist - Kate Gembrowski - Performing "Findin' A Good Man."
Below:(Left) Michigan Challenge Finalist - Jenna Moeggenborg - Performing "A Broken Wing." (Right) Michigan Challenge Finalist - John Cudworth - Performing "Don't Tell Me You Love Me."
Michigan Challenge Finalist - Steve Armstrong works the crowd at Stables - Performing "Unwound."
On August 15, Stables will begin a new competition - "Michigan's Got Talent." Jugglers, singers, musicians, dancers (whatever) are welcome to compete according to Stables spokesman Doug Dore. "If you got talent," says Dore. The Stables is the place to be on Wednesday night."
