The first round of auditions for the 2010 Teen Idol Competition will begin at the Howard County Fair on Thursday, August 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. Other round one regional auditions will be announced at a later date. Regional winners will go on to compete in the Final Columbia Teen Idol Audition to be held in September.

Participants selected at the final audition round will compete at the Hear My Voice Teen Idol Competition on Sunday, October 10 downtown at the Columbia Lakefront. This year’s winner will be awarded a $300 cash prize. Auditions are open to Howard County youth, grades 6-12. No music is necessary for auditions. Singing and

rap performers are welcome to audition; however, any use of profanity, sexual innuendo and references to drugs/alcohol will be grounds for disqualification. All Columbia Teen Idol finalists must agree to participate in the Hear My Voice community service project.

This event is sponsored by the Columbia Teen Center, the Columbia Association (CA) Teen Advisory Committee and the Columbia Community Exchange. For more information, please contact Teen Center Manager Rene Buckmon at 410-992-3726 or CA’s Teen Outreach Program Manager Carol Wasser at 410-715-5523.

The Columbia Teen Center is a fun, safe place for teens and pre-teens to socialize and participate in recreational and educational programs that are designed to promote self-esteem and develop life skills. CA’s Teen Advisory Committee is made up of dedicated local high school students who bring new and exciting opportunities to the teen community in Howard County. Columbia Community Exchange is a community-based Time Banking program offered by CA to provide an opportunity for neighbors to help neighbors through the mutual exchange of everyday services.

From Columbia Association