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Madeline McNichols (left) and Amelia Getahun-Hawkins (right) at the 2012 US Open Casting Call.
© Susan Luchars
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Auditions took place at Harlem's World Famous Apollo Theater.
© Susan Luchars
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A singer is pleased with his audition at the US Open Casting Call.
© Susan Luchars
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By Erin Bruehl, USOpen.org
NEW YORK – Some had a short drive, some were seasoned singers, while others traveled across the country and were on some of their first auditions. But no matter their experience level or how far they traveled, all the kids who arrived at Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theater in New York City Tuesday had the same goal: To sing at the 2012 US Open.
At the sixth annual US Open Casting Call, 151 kids aged 12-and-under auditioned, performing "America the Beautiful" before a panel of music and entertainment industry judges, for the chance to sing in Arthur Ashe Stadium prior to a night session of the 2012 US Open, which runs from August 27-September 9.
The judges were renowned Broadway director Ray Roderick, Ken DiCamilo of the William Morris Agency and Brian Nolan of Columbia Records.
Madeline McNichols, 12, was one contestant and a previous Casting Call winner who traveled far. She came from Milwaukee Monday because she had the time of her life when she was selected from last year's Casting Call to perform during an evening session of the 2011 US Open.
"I wanted to do this again because I loved it so much," McNichols, who was first in line Tuesday, said of performing at the US Open. "It was the best feeling ever, just looking at all the people in the stadium, singing to them and hearing myself. It was the most wonderful I have ever felt."
Auditioning for the first time was 11-year-old Josh King, who was another one of the far-traveling and seasoned singers. From Charlotte, N.C., he was already in the New York area performing concerts, which is just one of the places he studies with vocal coaches. Among the coaches he trains with is Jan Smith, who works with pop superstar Justin Bieber, whom King is often compared to because of their similar physical appearance and front-swept hair.
Bieber performed a concert at the Apollo the night before the Casting Call, but appearance and coach are the only similarities between him and King, who wants to be his own performer, not a smaller version of another singer.
"I needed a vocal coach, so my mom sent one of my videos to (Smith), and she wanted to see me," King said. "People call me the ‘little Justin Bieber,' but I don’t like it so much. I want to be myself.
"I got a casting notice (for the US Open Casting Call), so I had to start practicing ‘America the Beautiful.’ I’ve been practicing all week," he added of his first US Open Casting Call audition. "I’ve never been to the US Open. It would be really fun to sing there."
Also auditioning for the first time was 12-year-old Amelia Getahun-Hawkins of nearby West Harrison, N.Y., who was in line at 5 a.m. to try out and combine two things she loves: singing and tennis. She saw other kids performing in Ashe while she was at the US Open last year, so her mother, Nigest, looked into it.
"My mom said, ‘You could try to do that,’ so she looked up how you audition," Getahun-Hawkins said. "I am so excited. I play tennis four times a week, and I love singing," she said. "I think the US Open is spectacular. It is huge, but you can still see the players so well."
Brennley Brown, 10, had one of the longest trips of any contestant, coming from Apple Valley, Calif. An avid performer in musicals in her area as well as at minor league baseball games, Brown wanted to audition for the chance to sing ‘America the Beautiful’ in New York and on a stage as large as the US Open as soon as her mom discovered the Casting Call information online.
"I love patriotic songs. I think they touch people’s hearts," she said of why she wanted to audition.
"I like tennis," she added. "I saw a picture of it (Arthur Ashe Stadium), and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, it is crazy big.’ There are no words to explain what it would be like to sing there."
A number of singers also came hoping the second or third time might be the chance they are selected. Shankar Saikia, 10, of Monroe, N.J., auditioned last year, as he loves tennis, especially 11-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, and performing.
"I love tennis – it is my favorite sport – and I also love singing," he said. "So I decided to come back for another try this year."
J.C. Demaria, 10, of Monmouth Junction, N.J., was on his third audition, hoping his experience and improved voice will now carry him to the US Open.
"I really want to get it," he said. "I think this audition was better than my previous ones. My voice has matured over time, and I was much less nervous. After two years, you get used to it."
One of the younger and most colorful contestants was six-year-old Mariah Smith, of Queens, N.Y., or "Miss America," according to her shiny blue and white crown and sash. Despite her young age, Smith was trying out for the second time. Last year’s Casting Call was her first-ever singing audition, and Tuesday's was just her second, but she takes vocal lessons now and came ready with her mom, Charlene Supriana.
First, however, was the search for the perfect audition outfit, which made Smith stand out. The day before, she picked out the crown and sash, along with patriotic red and blue studded star-shaped earrings at a Claire’s store.
"She was one of the first to audition last year, and she enjoyed it," Supriana said of why Smith wanted to come back. "We picked out her clothes yesterday. She went all out and said, ‘That’s it!’ (to the ‘Miss America’ costume) when she saw it."
The names and number of children selected to perform at the 2012 US Open will be announced in mid-July.