Yuma Star Finalists announced

  The final slots have been filled for the 2008 Yuma Star finals and now all that remains is the singing.

  The showcase takes place 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Historic Yuma Theatre, 254 S. Main St. Tickets for the finals are $6 at The Sun, 2055 Arizona Ave.

 The decision on the winner is based on 50 percent audience vote and 50 percent judge vote.

 The competition began earlier this month with a total of 36 contestants - 18 in each group. The finalists are:

• Kay-Lanie Lemmon
Age: 11
Style: Ballad
Year started to sing: Three years ago.
Other talents: Dance
Personal goals: To be an X-ray technician someday
Favorite song to sing: "How Could You Say You Love Me"
Who do you think your style is most like?: One famous Asian singer who is called the pop princess of the Philippines
What one talent do you wish you had?: Dancer
One thing people would be surprised about you: That I can sing in Tagolog (Philippine language)

• Katie Ballard
Age: 25
Style: Pop
Year started to sing: When I started to talk.
Other talents: Teaching and acting
Personal goals: To become a great teacher and instill in my students the love of music.
Favorite song to sing: "Natural Woman"
Who do you think your style is most like?: Kelly Clarkson
What one talent do you wish you had?: Dancing
One thing people would be surprised about you: I just got engaged to a wonderful man, and we're getting married next summer.

• Tara Rachelle Sullivan
Age: 17
Style: Pop/rock
Year started to sing: Very young in church, primary school, young women's and church choir
Other talents: Dancing and acting
Personal goals: To succeed
Favorite song to sing: "Do You Know" - Enrique Iglesias
Who do you think your style is most like?: Kelly Clarkson
What one talent do you wish you had?: Playing piano
One thing people would be surprised about: Being able to perform the national anthem at National Day of Prayer and the Fourth of July flag raising. It makes me proud to show my patriotism through those performances.

• Magaly Ramirez
Age: 15
Style: Alternative
Year started to sing: When I was 2 years old
Other talents: Cooking. If it's even considered a talent. Ha ha.
Personal goals: Go to college, get a degree in music, someday become a professional singer
Favorite song to sing: "I Kissed A Girl" - Katy Perry
Who do you think your style is most like?: Not really sure. I listen to and sing all types of music.
What one talent do you wish you had?: I guess I'd like to be able to read minds.
One thing people would be surprised about: I used to be vegetarian.

• Calvin O.
Age: 48
Style: Country
Year started to sing: in my late 20s or early 30s
Other talents: Play guitar, songwriting
Personal goals: Record my own CD
Favorite song to sing: "The Shake" or "What's Your Name" or my own songs
Who do you think your style is most like?: A cross between Elvis and Johnny Cash, because of my deep Southern voice
What one talent do you wish you had?: Songwriter
One thing people would be surprised about: That I have performed for the Florida Country Music Association at a music jamboree in LaBell, Fla., after Hurricane Andrew struck Miami and Homestead in 1992 and packed the floor with both songs I performed.

• Alana Dominguez
Age: 12
Style: Mexican folk
Year started to sing: At the age of 4.
Other talents: I can cheer and play the piano
Personal goals: Study to become a pediatrician and a professional singer
Favorite song to sing: "No One" - Alicia Keys
Who do you think your style is most like?: Alicia Keys
What one talent do you wish you had?: Gymnast
One thing people would be surprised about you: I can sing in both English and Spanish.

• Victoria Moreno
Age: 21
Style: Country
Year started to sing: When I could talk
Other talents: Sports (track and field)
Personal goals: Be the best Mom I can be. Become a PA and have a successful career/life.
Favorite song to sing: "And I Am Telling You"
Who do you think your style is most like?: Christina Aguilera/JoDee Messina
What one talent do you wish you had?: Dance
One thing people would be surprised about: I sleep with a nightlight (I'm terrified of the dark)!

• Monika Flores
Age: 26
Style: Pop/country
Year started to sing: When I was little
Other talents: I'm an actress as well, you may have seen me several times on stage at AWC, and my arm is in the movie "Into The Wild"
Personal goals: To entertain, to spread happiness
Favorite song to sing: At this time it's "7 Things" – Miley Cyrus – she is so spunky
Who do you think your style is most like?: Gym Class Heroes
What one talent do you wish you had?: I'm a jack of all trades, a master of none
One thing people would be surprised about: I can play bass and drums at the same time.

• Beryl Lay
Age: 15
Style: Disney
Year started to sing: When I was around 5 or 6
Other talents: I write poems very well and I can draw.
Personal goals: To finish school and get a job I will enjoy
Favorite song to sing: I love to sing no matter what so I do not have a specific favorite
Who do you think your style is most like?: Celine Dion is who I think my style is most like.
What one talent do you wish you had?: I would like to be able to do a cartwheel.
One thing people would be surprised about: I'm planning to go to school in France my junior year.

• Marco Chaira
Age: 12
Style: Pop
Year started to sing: About 4 years old
Other talents: Acting and photo editing
Personal Goals: To be a singer someday
Favorite song to sing: "Poetry" – Danity Kane
Who do you think your style is most like?: I think my style is very unique
What one talent do you wish you had?: Acting
One thing people would be surprised about: I'm a very shy person

• Skip DeCarr
Age: 54
Style: Country/oldies
Year started to sing: Age 11
Other talents: Play lead guitar, bass, drums
Personal goals: I would like to live long enough to watch my grandchildren walk down the aisle to marriage
Favorite song to sing: I have so many, I can't pick just one
Who do you think your style is most like?: Merle Haggard
What one talent do you wish you had?: I would like to produce music professionally and find new talent
One thing people would be surprised about: I'm really old but I can still yodel!

• Melanie Alameda
Age: 14
Style: Broadway
Year started to sing: Age 4
Other talents: Sports, piano
Personal goals: Become a  physical trainer and nutritionist
Favorite song to sing: "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
Who do you think your style is most like?: Judy Garland
What one talent do you wish you had?: Basketball superstar
One thing people would be surprised about: I'm double-jointed; I'm terrified of spiders

• Dominic Antonelli
Age: 23
Style: Rock
Year started to sing: Hmmm. My first band was my sophomore year. I guess that was 2001, so sevenish years
Other talents: I can play guitar and make people laugh
Personal goals: Provide for my family, serve God with my talents, have fun doing what I do
Favorite song to sing: "Say It Ain't So" - Weezer
Who do you think your style is most like?: As much as I try to be an individual, I also try to take many influences to create my own style. If I had to choose just one, I would say Brandon Boyd of Incubus.
What one talent do you wish you had?: Playing guitar, that way I can still participate in music
One thing people would be surprised about: I enjoy listening to String Quartet Tribute

• Jennifer Castro
Age: 33
Style: Pop/rhythm and blues
Year started to sing: In elementary school
Other talents: I love to make music and write songs
Personal goals: To become the best wife and mother I can be
Favorite song to sing: "Visions of Love" – Mariah Carey
Who do you think your style is most like?: Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Keisha Coles
What one talent do you wish you had?: Dancing
One thing people would be surprised about: I've been told that I have a big voice for such a little body

• Michelle Burt
Age: 40 (or 29)
Style: Ballad
Year started to sing: Age 3
Other talents: I have been doing theater all of my life
Personal goals: To retire from the Marine Corps and open a children's boutique
Favorite song to sing: "I Will Always Love You"
Who do you think your style is most like?: Whitney Houston
What one talent do you wish you had?: Dancing
One thing people would be surprised about: That I used to sing opera