It’s getting
down to the wire for the Wednesday night “Vocalist” competition at The Media
Theatre. The 2015 eliminations have begun after four weeks of wonderfully
talented singers entertaining audiences and the top 15 have been announced.
Returning to
the Finals during Week Five are Grace Atherholt, 19, York; Chesroleeysia Bobb, 16, Feasterville;
Rhiannon Charney, 18, Upper Chichester; Victoria D'Ascenzo, 14, Upper
Chichester; Julia Degruchy, 19, Philadelphia; Maggie Kennedy, 18, Malvern;
Danielle Lachall, 24, Aston; Paul Mariani III, 15, Ardmore; Jacob Mergott, 16,
Swarthmore; Camille Mola, 23, Springfield; Robert Rinaldo, 24, Paoli; Skyler
Shields, 16, Downingtown; Emma Smith, 18, Phoenixville; Lauryn Morgan Thomas,
19, Upper Darby; Francesca Venezia, 18, Collegeville.
An important note:
Thomas Dempsey, 16, of Brookhaven was one of the original top 15. However, he
is unable to return to the Finals so the next person with the highest score,
Francesca Venezia, takes his place. She is not pictured in attached photo which
was taken on stage right after the top 15 announcement was made.
 |
| The 2015 Vocalist Top 15. Back: Julia Degruchy, Maggie Kennedy, Rhiannon Charney, Skylar Shields, Thomas Dempsey, Jacob Mergott, Robert Rinaldo. Front: Victoria D'Ascenzo, Lauryn Morgan Thomas, Camille Mola, Grace Atherholt, Paul Mariani III, Chesroleeysia Bobb, Emma Smith, and Danielle Lachall. |
After four weeks of accumulated judges’ ballot scores and online/
public voting, this was the result heading into week five. Artistic Director
Jesse Cline is the one constant judge who works with guest judges each week.
The guest judges during week four semi-finals were professional figure skater
Ramona Gwynn and Iron Workers Bank VP Brett Whitig. Iron Workers Bank is the
title sponsor for the summer event.
Another personality who works with the contestants each week
during their Monday night rehearsals plus accompanies them during the show each
Wednesday is the accompanist Ben Kapilow. Cline said, “He is one of the most
talented accompanists we have had here at the theatre. He has been a great
asset to the Vocalist this summer. He has a true understanding as to what this
is all about.”
Now that the top 15 are gearing up for the final night on Wednesday
August 5, which takes place at 7pm, they have a mandate from Cline. “You must
each prepare two songs,” he said. “One of the two songs prepared must be a
music theatre piece.”
The purpose behind preparing two songs is that the future remains unseen
and each must be ready if they make it into the top five.
The top 15 will sing in Act One on August 5. During intermission,
the votes will be tabulated—now all starting with a clean slate (no longer
accumulated from the first four weeks). At the top of Act Two, the Top Five
will be announced who will sing their second selection starting fresh with new
votes once more before a winner is determined.
Each of the Top Five receive a cash prize donated by Iron Workers
Bank. First place gets $1500, second place receives $500, and the rest walk
away with $250 each.
Who the 2015 “Vocalist” winner will be is anyone’s guess as accumulated
votes are no longer happening and each song performance is judged individually
now on its own merit. The online and public votes have been wiped clean as
well, but are still happening and may assist in moving a contestant into the
top five. No public votes will happen once the top five is announced, however.
If you would like to vote for your favorite “Vocalist” contestant,
visit www.mediatheatre.org or call
610-891-0100. Tickets are available as well, and it’s a great night out for
summer entertainment. “Vocalist” finals are Wednesday August 5 at 7pm onstage
at The Media Theatre.
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