Eight students from Door County high schools show off their vocal talents to a live audience – and live judges – in their quest to win not just a title but also cash prizes in the third annual “Sing, Door County” singing competition at Southern Door Community Auditorium.
The eight vocalists chosen for the final competition – Briana Barganz, Axel Howard and Jaden McAfee of Sturgeon Bay High School; Logan Euclide, McKenna Guilette, Anna Massart and Kadince Shefchik of Southern Door; and Lily Leiberg, who is homeschooled – were selected from a preliminary round of competition in January, then a semifinal round in March.
The singers have been working on song selections, vocals and stage presence with show co-producers Lee Spude and Cory Vandertie. They will perform two songs each and receive feedback during the show from four judges who also will decide the winner in combination with votes from those in the audience. The winner will receive $1,500 with $500 awarded to the runner-up.
In addition to the songs sung by the eight contestants, the first two “Sing, Door County” winners, 2025 winner Ashlynn Paulsen and 2024 winner Justin Gutierrez, return to the Southern Door stage as guest performers. Nick Freimuth of the “Let’s Go Door County!” Facebook page and social media outlet will serve as the show host.
“Sing, Door County” resurrected the idea of a singing contest for Door County youths in 2024, formatted along the lines of the hit ABC show “American Idol.” “Door County Idol” was held at Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek from 2005 to 2013, and Spude, the 2006 “Idol” winner and a Southern Door High School graduate, got permission from that show’s producer, Kristy Nelson, to create a similar contest and show.
“Sing, Door County” is being held at 7 p.m. May 30 at Southern Door Community Auditorium, on the Southern Door school campus at 2073 County DK, Brussels. Tickets are $19 to $23.25 for reserved seats. For tickets or more information, call 920-676-1920 or visit southerndoorauditorium.org.
Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County students take stage for ‘Sing, Door County’ vocal contest
Reporting by Christopher Clough, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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