AVCS in fine voice

Judging for annual singing competition former “The Voice” contestant Austin Ellis.

By ANGELA LINCE Special to the Press-Republican
April 29, 2016

GABE DICKENS/P-R PHOTO Ashleigh Baer performs “I Will Survive” onstage at AuSable Valley Center School. The recent contest was a fundraiser for the school’s Jazz Choir. 

PLATTSBURGH — Nineteen talented students grabbed the microphone and sang their hearts out at the recent Voice Singing Competition at AuSable Valley Central School.

With four judges sitting below them, including Austin Ellis, a competitor on the 2014 season of the hit TV show “The Voice,” the students shared their passion for each song performed.

The first round of the sing-off began with eight Middle School students each singing a 60-second portion of the song of their choosing.

From there, the judges commented on their performances.

Then 11 High School contestants were given their 60 seconds of fame.

Among the songs were: “Hello” by Adele, “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical “Les Misérables” and “My Heart Will Go On” by Céline Dion.

Some students accompanied themselves with such instruments as harp and ukulele.

AuSable Valley Jazz Choir Director Steve Collier played piano for other competitors.

‘JOLENE’

Ellis performed halfway through the show, singing “Jolene” by Ray Lamontagne.

First, though, he told the crowd that he had auditioned for “The Voice” with that song, which made it very special to him.

And he thanked John LaHart and his daughter, Kassie, who is a member of the AuSable Valley Jazz Choir, for inviting him to judge at the competition.

Collier said Mr. LaHart’s guest judge truly added excitement to the third-annual sing-off.

FINAL ROUND

The suspense didn’t stop there.

During intermission, the judges gathered their notes and chose who would continue.

Narrowing it down to six final contestants was very difficult, said judge Rance Bloom said, especially when each performance gave him “goosebumps.”

For the final round, the contestants sang a full-length song.

And then the judges made their decisions.

The Middle School winner was Lily Potthast, and the High School champ was Latalya Duell.

This was the third year that Bloom, a special-education teacher for the district, was one of the judges. He has helped the stage crew for musicals and so is familiar with the students’ musical talents.

“It’s an honor for me to be able to sit there and see the progress and see the growth and hear the improvements year after year,” he said.