University Idol will showcase talent
April 5, 2013
By Megan Ingros | @KyKernel
All eyes will be on the top-12 finalists of University Idol as they perform at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Singletary Center for the Arts.
Ryan Seacrest, make way for new hosts. Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and Delta Delta Delta sorority, in partnership with the AcoustiCats, the all-male a capella group on campus, created the philanthrophy event to showcase the singing talents of the Lexington community and raise money for the Lexington Cancer Foundation and St. Jude’s Children Hospital.
Online auditions ended March 3, and the 12 final contestants will perform live. The audience will determine who makes it to the final round by “liking” the contestant’s photo on the University Idol Facebook page. First- and second-place winners will receive a cash prize.
Jeremy Lewis, president of SAE and active member of the AcoustiCats, developed the idea for the event.
“Being in Fine Arts and AcoustiCats I usually know the talent, but was very surprised,” Lewis said. “Voting online is not predicting anything. It’s all up in the air.”
As of Wednesday, 400-500 tickets had been sold for the event. Lewis is hoping to sell around 1,000 tickets. The event’s Facebook page has over 90,000 views.
Lewis is planning on making University Idol an annual event. He predicts it can be monumental.
Brian Carter, a music director from New York, helped put together songs for the event.
“It is a wonderful and unique philanthropic event full of great talent that is nothing that’s been done at UK before,” said Patrick Zimmerman, member of SAE.
Tri Delt has set a national goal to raise $15 million for St. Jude’s in five years. Getting involved in University Idol was a new way to raise money and have fun in the process, according to Emily Dicks, Tri Delt philanthropy chair.
“We hope to bring a new, exciting event to campus that is new and fun for all the attendees, as well as raise money and raise awareness for LCF and St. Jude’s,” Dicks said.
