What is Abilene Idol?

Abilene Idol is a local take on the national singing competition American Idol, and Chorus Abilene’s biggest fundraiser, helping to fund scholarships, daily operations, music programming, etc. 

Who is allowed to participate in Abilene Idol?

Any singer in the Big Country over the age of 6 years is allowed to participate!  We have three age categories: Mini Abilene Idol (ages 6-12), Abilene Idol Junior (ages 13-17), and Abilene Idol (ages 18+).

How much is the audition fee?

For those who register prior to the audition day, the participation fee is $25 and reserves your specific audition time. Walk-up registrants pay a $30 fee and choose an audition time from the remaining time slots.

What should I sing for my audition?

We encourage all genres of music to be sung in any language!  We do not allow profanity or explicit lyrics.  You should choose a song that shows off the best part of your vocal range and one that you feel confident singing – we want to see your stage presence shine!  Many people tend to choose slow ballads, so when in doubt, choose something other than a ballade.

How long is my audition?

Your audition is two minutes long, so you may choose two minutes within the song, or start at the beginning and have the DJ fade out your track after two minutes have passed.

Does my audition song have to be memorized?

Yes.  Remember that this is not a karaoke contest, so there will not be lyrics in front of you.

May I perform a different song at the Finale than the one I sang in auditions?

No, you are required to sing the same song you auditioned for.  The only exception to that rule would be in the case of finalists who have identical audition selections.

Am I required to raise money as a finalist?

Yes, this is Chorus Abilene’s biggest yearly fundraiser, and we expect the finalists to help raise money while having a wonderful experience leading up to the Finale! The final score for each singer is comprised of three parts: 60% of your score is based on the decision of three judges on the evening of the performance, 20% is your amount of votes raised (1 vote = $1) prior to the FInale, and the 20% is the audience vote (by text) at the conclusion of the Finale concert.  

What kinds of perks do Abilene Idol finalists get?

Finalists receive many perks leading up to the Finale, including:

• Sponsorships from boutiques, stylists, and hair/makeup artists for the Finale 
• Professional headshots
• A free coaching session with professional instructor Serayah Peters 
• Social media spotlights
• Opportunities to be on local television and radio interviews
• Two complimentary tickets to the Finale at the Historic Paramount Theatre