On Sunday, Aug. 25, 10 very talented high school singers will perform, hoping to be the one crowned KC SuperStar — the best in the metro area!
KC SuperStar is the “American Idol/The Voice”-style singing competition sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City. The final event will take place at 7 p.m. in Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College. This “top 10” was whittled down from a field of 260 students representing 100 schools in the metro area who auditioned for KC SuperStar.
While the excitement is nearing a peak as to who will win the $7,500 Craig Citron Memorial Scholarship, there is more to the story than honoring youthful singing talent.
“SuperStar impacts lives directly and meaningfully,” said Jacob Schreiber, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Center. “It is a godsend to the JCC because it allows us the privilege to help families and children in need, and do it graciously, quietly and with dignity.”
Because of KC SuperStar, the JCC will distribute more than $450,000 in financial assistance — up from $260,000 four years ago when the event began. KC SuperStar has enabled the JCC to help significantly more people in need — children, seniors and families — whether facing on-going financial need or episodic struggles.
Take Menashe, a single, immigrant father who is caring for his child. Menashe’s wife is dying of cancer; he only works part time due to his own complicated medical conditions that include depression, insomnia and arthritis. Living in this household is tough on his young daughter, who gets little attention or stimulation. However, thanks to a scholarship to summer camp, this little girl was able to spend two carefree months making friends, swimming and laughing and experiencing the joy every child should.
Schreiber is quick to give credit for the success of KC SuperStar to the many volunteers who work on the annual summer event.
“KC SuperStar is a good idea, but without the monumental fundraising efforts of Herb Buchbinder — our community’s ‘Bulldog-Angel’ for tzedakah — hundreds of children, seniors and other needy people would certainly go without proper care, nourishment and education, and would never get to experience the joys of a summer, childhood, friendships, exercise,” he said.
At KC SuperStar, the audience participates in picking the ultimate winner. After each finalist performs, a four-judge panel will select the top four singers based on vocal quality and stage presence. The audience will then vote to narrow the contenders to two singers and then vote again to choose the ultimate winner to be declared KC SuperStar 2013.
And everyone’s a winner! In addition to the first place scholarship given to the KC SuperStar, all singers in the competition will receive scholarship awards. The second place winner receives $2,500; third place — $1,500; fourth place — $1,000; and singers coming in fifth through 10th place will each receive $500 scholarships.
This year’s 10 finalists and the schools they attend include:
CeCe Dawson, Kearney H.S., junior, Kearney, Mo. — Finalist in 2012
Jackson Gulick, Shawnee Mission Northwest H.S., senior, Shawnee — Finalist in 2012
Kendra Leet, Lawrence H.S., senior, Lawrence, Kan.
John Long, Lee’s Summit West H.S., senior, Greenwood, Mo.
Dylan Martin, Blue Valley Northwest H.S., junior, Overland Park
Maggie Marx, Shawnee Mission Northwest H.S., sophomore, Shawnee
Abby Parra, Bishop Miege H.S., senior, Fairway — Semi-Finalist 2012
Monica Sigler, Olathe East H.S., senior, Overland Park — Finalist first two years
Samantha Smith, Blue Valley West H.S., senior, Overland Park — Second Place winner 2012
Houston St. John, Shawnee Mission East H.S., sophomore, Lenexa
Another highlight of the evening is bestowing the Community SuperStar award on Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt. Harvesters — The Community Food Network will also be recognized as a SuperStar organization; part of the event’s proceeds will be shared with the food bank. For more information about KC SuperStar, visit www.kcsuperstar.com.
While limited seats remain in Yardley Hall, tickets are available for the Fan Room in the adjacent Polsky Theatre. The performance will be streamed live and Fan Room audience members will get to vote for the winner. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased by calling 913-327-8000.
Schreiber said KC SuperStar has become a synergistic event.
“The true strength of a community is not judged on how big its buildings are or how nice its streets look, but on how it treats its elderly, its wounded, its sick — and all those in need,“ Schreiber said. “With the partnership of the Jewish Federation, Jewish Heritage Foundation, Menorah Legacy Foundation, United Way, generous family foundations — and now with SuperStar — the JCC and our Jewish community can proudly say that we continue to stretch ourselves to do all we can.”