- By Dan Veaner
- Entertainment
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 Aaron Kelly wows about 1000 spectators at the "Famous in the Fingerlakes" finals |
12-year old music sensation Aaron Kelly opened the show with a selection of country tunes. Kelly belted out the selections with showmanship and a powerful voice that had the crowd swaying and clapping. Kelly's first CD is due soon. He has performed with Martina McBride, Charlie Daniels and the Marshall Tucker Band.
Linn Redder and Chris Allinger get the show rolling
Kelly was this week's guest judge, joining Scott Watson, and Mel Ginsburg-Stevens. After each song the judges told the singers and audience what they thought of the performance, but it is the audience that picked the winners each week. Finalists Matt Swearingen, Patricia McGregor, Kalendra Solat, Michelle Chandler and Lucia Cutoine competed, singing two songs as the audience rated their performances on a ballot.
Kalendra Solat and Patricia McGregor
Pyramid Mall's Marketing Director Linn Redder and Chris Allinger, Operations Director of Qcountry 103.7, greeted the crowd, and Allinger took on the Master of Ceremonies duties, introducing the performers and keeping the evening moving at a steady clip. Contestants waited anxiously behind the stage for their turn in the spotlight.
(Left to right) Matt Swearingen, Lucia Cuttione, and Michele Chandler
By evening's end all the ballots were in, but still had to be counted by the mall staff Wednesday morning. The results were announced Wednesday evening. And the winner is... Matt Swearingen.
Judges Aaron Kelly, Scott Watson, and Mel Ginsburg-Stevens
Swearingen will receive a resort getaway from the Pyramid Mall, plus a professional recording session at Dragon Notes studio in Corning. He'll receive 100 copies of his demo on CD and a microphone trophy. Runners-up receive an "American Idol" CD and a microphone trophy. "Sounds corny but the trophies a great," says Redder, who came up with the idea for the contest. They are engraved "Famous in the Finger Lakes" 2006 Winner or Finalist.
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