Semifinalists Chosen for KC SuperStar 2018

Twenty-three 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
• Hudson Watts, Lee's Summit, Senior
• 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

Photo: Judges for the KC SuperStar preliminary auditions were (from left) Keith Wiedenkeller, The J's Arts + Culture Director; Steven Eubank, area director and actor; Tammy Ruder, KC SuperStar Producer; and Lisa Burris Burns.

About "The J"

Established more than 100 years ago, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, "The J," provides a warm welcome to families of all backgrounds. "The J's" all-in-one hub for health, learning and well-being elevates the lives of the community and its members with programs of excellence in fitness, sports, theatre, cultural arts, senior adult programming and youth services including summer camps and child development. Everyone can live up at "The J," located in Overland Park, Kansas, and at thejkc.org.