Journey Bank is pleased to announce the top 14 finalists from local area high schools who will perform at the 14th Annual Journey Bank Teen Star Musical Competition. The live finale is set for Sunday, May 19, 2024, at Bloomsburg University’s Haas Auditorium at 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. Tickets to the event are $5 in advance at any of Journey Bank’s 22 branch locations and $7 at the door the day of the show. The Bank donates all ticket proceeds to the music departments at the finalists’ high schools.
This year, Teen Star is “Groovin’ Back To The 70s” with all the contestants singing iconic songs from the decade of the 1970s. In keeping with the 70’s theme, the Teen Star audience—friends, family, teachers, students, and employees—are all invited to dress in their best 70’s outfit to enter a costume contest for a chance to win great prizes.
More than 50 high school vocalists came out to auditions and vie for 14 coveted spots at the Journey Bank Teen Star Musical Competition finale. Chosen by a panel of independent audition judges, the 2024 Journey Bank Teen Star finalists are:
– Lydia Bacher – Bloomsburg Area High School – Senior
– Emma Berkes – Berwick Area Senior High School – Sophomore
– Maria Blas – Loyalsock Township High School – Senior
– Hannah Bower – Central Columbia High School – Senior
– Izzy Butters – Loyalsock Township High School – Junior
– Caroline Decker – Bloomsburg Area High School – Sophomore
– Alasia Gaines – Southern Columbia High School – Sophomore
– Jack Kendron – Berwick Area Senior High School – Junior
– Jaslin Shand – Williamsport Area High School – Freshman
– Emily Shapeero – Central Columbia High School – Junior
– Morgan Smith – Berwick Area Senior High School – Junior
– Elyse Spahr – Danville Area High School – Sophomore
– Jera Strony – Danville Area High School – Senior
– Jack Young – Montoursville Area High School – Senior
Modeled after the American Idol® TV show, Teen Star is a musical competition among local area high school students. Journey Bank sponsors this award-winning community event each year to give high school students a unique platform to showcase their talents, to support the music programs at our area schools, and to promote the performing arts in our community.
Auditions were open to any freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior who attends a high school in Columbia, Montour, or Lycoming County or in the Warrior Run School District. The competition also invited contestants who are high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors who permanently reside in Columbia, Montour, or Lycoming County or in the Warrior Run School District, but attend another school outside of Columbia, Montour, or Lycoming County or the Warrior Run School District, or are home-schooled or enrolled in a cyber-school.
At the finale, the 14 chosen teens perform for the audience and a panel of judges from the music and entertainment industries. This year’s judges are Alissa Swarts, Director of Education at WVIA TV; Alison Morooney, Assistant Professor of Theatre Performing Arts at Wilkes University; and Dr. Joshua Harper, Director of Choral Activities at Wilkes University. The show begins with each finalist performing and then receiving comments from the judges. After all 14 perform, the judges will choose three to compete with a second song. The audience will then get an “audience save” where they will text their vote for a fourth finalist. From these four, the judges will choose the 2024 Journey Bank Teen Star. The top prize is $2,000, with second, third and fourth place finishers receiving $1,000, $750, and $350, respectively. All other finalists receive $100.
Over the past 13 years, hundreds of talented high school students have stepped up to audition. Since the show’s debut in 2011, the Bank has awarded $65,000 in prize money and donated more than $47,000 in ticket proceeds to the music programs at our local high schools.
Visit the Journey Bank Teen Star Musical Competition’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/journeybankteenstar and the Bank’s website at http://www.journeybank.com for more information.
