KC SuperStar Semifinalists Announced

Twenty-four high school students* from across the Greater Kansas City Metro area have been chosen as semifinalists for the 2016 KC SuperStar, a high school singing competition.

The singers were selected during auditions for KC SuperStar, an 'American Idol/The Voice' style competition sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City (The J). All 24 will compete in a semifinals "sing off" on Monday night, June 6, at the White Theatre at The J, located at 5801 W. 115th St., in Overland Park, Kansas. Semifinals' judges are music and theatre professionals including: Brad Cunningham, Julie O'Rourke Kaul, Chris McCoy and Martha Risser. KC Live's Joel Nichols will emcee the free event with the public invited to attend and cheer on their favorites. Those attending are asked to bring a canned good or household paper products to be donated to Jewish Family Services Community Food Pantry.

KC SuperStar is the annual fundraiser for The J and this year is co-chaired by Andrew and Sheryl Kaplan, longtime members and dedicated volunteers. Proceeds from KC SuperStar help provide transportation, meals, education, camp, wellness programs and the arts to so many deserving children, families, individuals and senior adults.

A panel of judges who are professionals in the entertainment industry will chose 10 singers who will go on to compete in the KC SuperStar finals on Sunday, Aug. 28, at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The grand prize for the best high school singer is a $10,000 scholarship.

In addition to the singer performances, the Aug. 28 event will honor former Kansas City Chiefs Guard and Pro Football Hall of Famer Will Shields as The J's Community SuperStar. Shields' has been helping thousands of people through his Will to Succeed Foundation, which he started, with his wife in 1993. Shields' has been recognized for his community efforts through numerous awards including his selection as the 2003 recipient of the prestigious NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

The winner of KC SuperStar will receive a $10,000 scholarship; the second place winner will receive $5,000; Third Place-$2,500; and Fourth Place-$1,000.

At the finals on Sunday, Aug. 28 the audience gets a chance to weigh in on the competitors. Again, a panel of professionals in the industry will select the top four high singers; the audience will vote electronically to determine the ultimate winner.

"Every year I am blown away by the level of talent in Kansas City," said KC SuperStar Coordinator Felice Azorsky. "We have a lot of new faces in the semifinals this year, and they have a wide range of styles. The judges are going to have a really hard time narrowing down the 24 to 10 finalists."

For more information about KC SuperStar, please visit www.kcsuperstar.com; please check out the Facebook page as well at http://www.facebook.com/KCSuperStar.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City offers programs and activities that provide wellness, meaning and joy to people of all backgrounds. The JCC is a community leader in youth services, fitness and sports activities, social and educational events, cultural arts, theatre, and senior adult programming, and is open to people off all faiths and backgrounds since 1914.

The 2016 KC SuperStar Semifinalists and the schools they attend include:

Sam Aubuchon: Blue Springs, MO

Allie Bostwick: Private school; lives in Olathe, KS; 2015 Finalist

Jacob Brown: Kansas City, MO

Elizabeth Brown: Shawnee Mission West

Elise Dorsey: Shawnee Mission Northwest

Giana Epps: Blue Valley Southwest

Mallory Griffin: Oakgrove MO; 2015 Semifinalist

AnnaMaire Hurst: Kansas City, MO

Parker Jenkins: Lee's Summit

Griffin Leander: Blue Valley Northwest

Michelle Maddock: Private school; lives in Overland Park

Maggie Manning: Blue Valley Northwest

Sebastian McCarty: Blue Valley North; 2015 Finalist

Paige Padgett: Lansing, KS

Bella Pichardo: Private school; lives in Kansas City, MO

Savannah Purkey: Oakgrove, MO

Ansonia Serrano: Grain Valley, MO

Haley Shatto: Blue Valley West

Donesha Talley: Kansas City, MO

Lauren Taylor: Olathe East

Madi Toman: Paola High School

Wyatt Walberg: Olathe East

Valiante Waltz: Raymore, MO

Tessa Worner: Shawnee Mission East

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