Sara Heilman was one of 12 local singers competing in the opener of this year’s ‘Voice of Baltimore’ competition Monday night at Padonia Station. She finished out of the money in 2012 but will return as a semifinalist July 1st. (VoB Photo/Debi Fowler)
TWELVE LOCAL AREA SINGERS COMPETE
AS POPULAR TIMONIUM SPORTS CLUB
KICKS OFF 2013 CONTEST IN STYLE
The 12th annual “Voice of Baltimore” singing competition at Padonia Station sports bar and restaurant kicked off Monday night in Timonium as 12 local area singers gave first-rate performances, thrilling a large contingent of club patrons and supporters.
MC’d by Paul Mittermeier, director of communications for the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation, which is the beneficiary of the annual event, the competition is scheduled to run for seven consecutive Monday nights beginning at 9 p.m., concluding with the final, July 15, at which this year’s male and female “Voice of Baltimore” will be named.
For the first time in its 12-year history, a male and female winner will be crowned. In the first 11 years of the contest, all the winners have been women. Six men competed Monday night.
Last year’s winner, Stephanie Bowen, returned as a celebrity judge, with New Romance keyboard player Greg Marsh, Hear’s to the Night guitarist Steve Wozniak, and Voice of Baltimore Managing Editor AL Forman completing the judges’ panel.
VoiceOfBaltimore.org, the website, is a co-sponsor of the event.
Galen Beck arranged the musical accompaniment for the 12 singers, eight of whom were selected to return in four weeks for the semifinals, which will take place July 1 and 8.
Prizes include $300 each for the male and female winners, along with a five-hour recording session provided by Sheffield Audio-Video Production. The first-place winners will also be interviewed on WNST-AM Radio-1570 on “Catch the Buzz,” a daily sports talk show co-hosted by Mittermeier and Damon “The Bulldog” Yaffe, who serves as chief of the contest judges.
Male and female runners-up will receive $150 each, with third-place winners taking home $50. There is a $5 fee to enter the contest.
The annual event is organized and produced by Debi Fowler, Padonia Station’s promotions and marketing director.
— VoB Staff report
alforman@voiceofbaltimore.org
CHECK OUT PREVIOUS “VOICE OF BALTIMORE” COMPETITION STORIES: click here
