Scott Trade Center St Louis

American Idol comes to town: Singers flock to St. Louis for auditions

Many were called Tuesday morning to the first American Idol audition of the new season at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, but few were chosen.

No one was saying how many, and even those few will have to go through another round of auditions to move on to the Fox network talent show.

Producers from the show listened to thousands of hopefuls, winnowing out a few who were paraded by the press outside the building. Although they could stop and talk, they were not really allowed to say anything about their success.

"They can't sing for you," said a show spokesman.

But Trevor May, 16, of Olney, could show her "The Next American Idol" arrow sign and explain that he sang "I heard through the grapevine."

So what the producers say about his performance?

"I can not tell you," he said.

The unsuccessful competitors could say more, and sing as well.

Carie Keleman, 20, of Damiansville, a student and runner at Lindenwood University in Belleville, said her family encouraged her to audition, and she was glad she had.

"(Producers) said I auditioned well but I was too nervous," Keleman said. "She said, 'Wow. It was great."But I just was not what they wanted."

This is the first preliminary hearings were in St. Louis since 2004, when Carrie Underwood auditioned, like the people Fox reminded people time and time again.

Jordan Boren, 15, of Vandalia, said she was a kind of clone of Carrie, but did not have the same success.

"I sang two songs," she said. They were both Carrie Underwood air. "They told me I had a lot of potential."

She also auditioned last year in Milwaukee.

"They told me then that I must be a little older," she said.

It intends to start next year when it will be even more.

Some competitors were corralled near an entrance, waiting to get in and audition. They sang together and separately and waited nervously.

"Some really good people are getting turned away. It's scaring me," said Bailey Bush, 15, of Clinton, Ind.

"I'm too nervous to be in my seat," said Alyx Trigg, 20, of Arnold, Mo.

He said he arrived about midnight with friends and they partied with a few people who also were there early.

His friend Chelsea Lancaster, 21, of Oakville, Mo., who had already performed, came by to bolster Trigg's confidence.

She might not have been a good role model since she said she blanked out and forgot the words to the song she intended to sing.

STLCC Commencement Slated for May 21 at Scottrade Center :: St ...

(Frontenac, Mo.), who will graduate with honors from Meramec with an associate degree in general transfer studies. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year institutions, and volunteers regularly with youth in the foster system. Baker plans to attend Saint Louis University to study speech and language pathology. Her long-term goals include specializing in early intervention therapies for children who have autism. Joshua Golden (St. Louis, Mo.), who will receive an associate degree in general transfer studies from Florissant Valley.While balancing school and three part-time jobs, the Golden manages to spend time on campus and community service. He is the Vice President Phi Theta Kappa Regional. It is also a writer for the campus newspaper, the Forum, and serves as a peer tutor in the campus science and math center. Gold is also a volunteer at the YMCA, where he works to develop and facilitate a teen club for young people in the city. He plans to attend Washington University and study political science and psychology. Margaret Grant (Chesterfield, Mo.), who will receive an associate degree in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts from Forest Park. Grant, who graduates with a 4.0 grade-point average, is a member Phi Theta Kappa, the St. Louis chapter of Chefs de Cuisine and the American Culinary Federation. She also competed for the “Hot Foods Team” that was a two-time winner of the Student Culinary Challenge at East Central College. Grant, who works for a local catering company, also teaches gluten-free baking classes through STLCC’s continuing education program and hopes to market her gluten-free bread recipe. Grant hopes to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education so that she can teach one day. Jackie Stevens (Pacific, Mo.), who will receive an associate degree in general transfer studies from Wildwood. A member of Phi Theta Kappa, Stevens has been on the Dean’s List in recognition of her academic achievement. She participated in the STLCC Study Abroad program last fall, taking classes at Canterbury Christ Church University in Canterbury, England. Stevens plans to attend Maryville University and major in rehabilitation services. She has been awarded the Barat Transfer Scholarship and the Phi Theta Kappa Award by Maryville. Her long-term goal is to earn a master’s degree and become a rehabilitation counselor.

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