KC SuperStar 2018 Semifinalists Compete Next Monday At Jewish Community Campus

Twenty-two area high school students have been chosen as semifinalists* for the 2018 KC SuperStar singing competition!

Now in its ninth year, The Jewish Community Center (The J) sponsors this high school competition ala "The Voice" searching for the best singer in the Greater Kansas City Metro area. These teens will now compete at the June 4 Semifinals- via song - hoping to move forward to win the grand prize of a $10,000 scholarship.

These musical students represent a cross section of the Greater Kansas City region that took part in preliminary auditions earlier this spring. More than 200 students registered to audition this year. Each contestant stood before a panel of judges and performed a song A Capella.

Now these students will prepare to sing before a live audience at the June 4 Semifinals that will take place in the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre at The J, 5801 W. 115th St., in Overland Park.

The public is invited to attend the KC SuperStar Semifinals free of charge and cheer on their favorites. Those planning to come to the Semifinals are asked bring books gently used books to donate to Turn the Page, a reading initiative started by Kansas City Missouri Mayor Sly James. Mobilizing the community, Turn the Page works to mobilizes the community to help all third graders in Kansas City, Missouri to achieve reading proficiency at grade level or above.

At the June 4 Semifinals, another panel of judges will select 10 finalists who will go on to compete in the KC SuperStar finals on Sunday, Aug. 26 at Yardley Hall of Johnson County Community College. Area radio and television producer, Rich Linden, will return as the host for the Semifinals. Linden is known as the voice of both Park University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City athletics.

In addition to the $10,000 scholarship, other KC SuperStar finalists will be awarded scholarships for second place - $5,000; Third Place-$2,500; and Fourth Place-$1,000.

KC SuperStar is the annual fundraiser for The J. 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.

Eric and Shanny Morgenstern, longtime J members and dedicated volunteers, are chairing KC Superstar 2018 with brothers Barry and Eric Kaseff serving as vice co-chairs of the musical event.

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

*The KC SuperStar 2018 Semifinalists (names, school district and class year):

Lauren Howard, Lee's Summit, Freshman

Alyssa Mendoza, Shawnee Mission, Senior

Kaylin Miller, Kansas City KS, Sophomore

Jalen Dickerson-Sanders, Leavenworth, Junior

Jacobo Barriga, North Kansas City, Senior

Bret Kibler, Lone Jack, Senior

Reagan Dreiling, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sophomore

Kadisyn Kircher, Blue Valley, Junior

Cael Kuhn, St. James Academy, Freshman

Willa Walberg, Olathe, Freshman

Song Waltz, Raymore-Peculiar, Senior

Paige Padgett, Lansing, Junior

Jaeda Dickens, West Platte, Freshman

Erika Kolseth, Blue Valley, Freshman

Joseph Rziha, Homeschooled, Junior

Maurissa Cunningham, Kansas City MO, Junior

Jam Navarro, Pembroke, Sophomore

Emma Mathieson, Shawnee Mission, Sophomore

Andru Garrett, Grain Valley, Senior

Devion Williams, St. Michael the Archangel, Senior

Madelyn Padget, Blue Springs, Sophomore

Madi Toman, Paola, Senior

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