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Vocalists to compete in W.Va. Symphony Orchestra contest

February 10, 2008 @ 11:13 PM

DAVE LAVENDER

The Herald-Dispatch

CHARLESTON -- It seems everyone these days has a touch of Idol fever.

Even America's symphonies aren't immune to a little friendly competition at the mic.

At 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15-16, at the Clay Center, nine vocal finalists from around the region will do vocal battle as part of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra's contest, "Symphony Idol."

If you go

If you go

WHAT: West Virginia Symphony Idol

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15-16

WHERE: Clay Center for the Arts

HOW MUCH: Tickets begin at $9 and $5 for students and children

GET TIX: Clay Center Ticket Office, (304) 561-3570. Tickets may be ordered online at www.wvsymphony.org.

ON THE WEB: Go online at www.wvsymphony.org.

The contest is judged by music industry veterans Larry Groce, Randall Reid-Smith, and Mariel van Dalsum-Boggs.

Milton resident and veteran singer and actor Ryan Hardiman, who is currently in rehearsal for the Charleston Stage Company production of "The Pillowman," is in the finals.

Other finalists include: Micah Atkinson, Cary Lantz, Jessica Liston, Liz McCormick, Sarah Pauley, Tanner Sigman, Angela Szpak, and Jonathan Tucker.

Hardiman performed with the Symphony a couple weeks ago at a special concert that featured a wide range of performers from Larry Groce of Mountain Stage, Huntington native and Broadway star Mark McVey and acclaimed fiddler and musical star of "Riverdance," Eileen Ivers.

Hardiman, who's been seen and heard in many stage productions in Charleston and Huntington, said performing with the power of an orchestra is an unforgettable experience.

"It's amazing," he said. "I have performed in a lot of theater shows, and that is exciting as well, and not downplaying that at all, but it is awesome getting to perform with an orchestra at such a high-profile event. It's going to be something else."

One of the things he's looking forward to is the diverse group of singers. His competition brings a range of vocal styles.

"They are adapting it all, whether it's Broadway or opera or pop or country, and infusing it with all the flavor that only the West Virginia Symphony can bring to it."

Hardiman, who has starred in such musicals as "Rocky Horror," "Jekyll and Hyde," and "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," is bringing some of his hearty musical theater experience to the stage.

All the contestants sing two hand-picked songs Friday night with the WVSO and Maestro Grant Cooper, and the audience gets to vote on the top four choices at the end of the concert. The votes will be tabulated overnight.

Saturday, each of the nine finalists will once again perform one selection with the orchestra in the first half of the concert.

Just before intermission, the names of the top four finalists (as selected by the Friday night audience) will be revealed. It will then be up to the Saturday night audience to make the final selection. They will be asked to vote for one of the announced top four during the intermission of the Saturday concert.

Those votes will be counted in the second half of Saturday's concert, which will feature a performance from each of the remaining four finalists, as well as a song from each of the judges. Then, it will be time to learn the identity of the winner, which will be announced at the very end of Saturday's concert.

The Symphony Idol winner will be offered the opportunity to perform with the WVSO on future occasions, including Symphony Sunday 2008 in June.

For his two songs, Hardiman has picked two songs from the musical, "Jekyll and Hyde," including "This is the Moment," a well-known song from the show, as well as "I Need to Know," a song that was on the original concept album for the show but not on the original cast soundtrack.

"It's really a powerful and moving song that is about Henry Jekyll's dream of finding a cure for insanity, and being able to isolate the good part of man. It's almost like the 'Impossible Dream,' from 'Man from La Mancha.' It's one of those quest type of songs."

For Hardiman, who also sang with the West Virginia Symphony during a 2007 Labor Day roadshow in Beckley, said whether or not he wins is immaterial, since he's already fulfilled his quest to get to sing with the symphony.

"If I was smart and knowing this was happening on Valentine's weekend I probably should have chosen love songs but I think the main draw for me, and the thing I am most excited about, is getting to perform songs that I want with the orchestra," Hardiman said. "Whether or not I win or lose is not the focus for me. Just this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to perform with such an awesome orchestra at the Clay Center is why I auditioned in the first place."

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Photo courtesy of Ryan Hardiman

Milton resident Ryan Hardiman is one of nine statewide contestants competing in Symphony Idol for a chance to perform with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.