Valley students will perform in Teen Star Musical Competition

Anna Wiest, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·2 min read

May 16—Three Valley students will perform in the 14th annual Teen Star Musical Competition this weekend.

Danville senior Jera Strony and sophomore Elyse Spahr, and Southern Columbia sophomore Alasia Gaines are among 14 finalists from local area high schools who will sing in the contest modeled after the TV show "American Idol."

The live finale will take place 2 p.m. Sunday at Bloomsburg University's Haas Auditorium. Tickets purchased in advance will cost $5 and are available at any of Journey Bank's 22 branch locations. They will cost $7 at the door the day of the show.

All contestants will be singing iconic songs from the 1970's to fit this year's theme Groovin' Back to the '70s. Audience members are invited to dress according to the theme to enter a costume contest.

Spahr, a member of the Danville Area High School choir and musicals, said she was excited to have the opportunity to participate in the competition and is looking forward to seeing the other contestants perform.

"It'll be cool to meet other people who are into what I'm into and hopefully make some friends from the experience," she said. "Also, my friend Jera is in it too and she's a pro at this from doing it the past two years so I'm looking forward to being able to do this with her, kind of like our last hurrah before she graduates."

Spahr said she plans to wear an eye-catching look drawing inspiration from one of her favorite books "Daisy Jones and the Six," which follows a '70's rock band.

Gaines, Spahr and Strony were selected from a pool of more than 50 local high school vocalists and will perform for a panel of judges from the music and entertainment industries, according to a press release.

After all 14 contestants perform, the judges will choose three to sing a second song. The audience will get an audience save and will have the opportunity to text their vote for a fourth finalist, the release said.

From these four, the 2024 Journey Bank Teen Star will be selected. The top prize is $2,000 and second, third and fourth-place finishers will receive $1,000, $750, and $350, respectively. All other finalists receive $100, according to the release.