Talented Teens Sought for Benefit Concert

In the era of YouTube, it makes sense that an upcoming talent competition is seeking video auditions. 

KidsMatter will hold its first Ignite the Nite Benefit Showcase Concert at April 19. Last weekend live auditions were held, but the nonprofit is also accepting video auditions.

Videos for solo acts and small group music, dance and theatre acts can be submitted until March 7, according to KidsMatter. Solo performers and groups may submit a video audition of up to 3.5 minutes. The video should be a one-minute or longer example of the program.

The hope is that there will be roughly 20 acts participating at the event, said Deb Newman, a marketing professional coordinating publicity the event. 

Along with the teen performers, American Idol Finalist Gina Glocksen will also be performing at the event. graduate and WGN weatherman Paul Konrad will be the event’s master of ceremonies. 

The money generated from the event will go towards KidsMatter activities to empower kids and their families, including educational resources and programming, job fair, volunteer fair, skaters picnic and youth service awards, Newman said. 

Tickets will be available for various levels, from VIP to student level seating. 

“This is a unique opportunity for young performers to share one of the finest performance venues in the country with a nationally-recognized vocal talent,” KidsMatter Executive Director IdaLynn Wenhold said in a news releae. “Our organization is all about celebrating kids and enabling them to realize the enormous possibilities available to them.  This concert is a natural extension of those efforts, and will help raise funds for our educational efforts, Job Fair, Volunteer Fair and Skater’s Picnic.”

A former choir mom and a professional marketing and fundraiser, Newman said she had seen other groups do larger concert fundraisers.

“The KidsMatter mission first and foremost is to celebrate the endless possibilities in kids,” Newman said.  “They had been doing a small fundraiser at Lou Malnati’s featuring a few groups of musicians from area high schools providing the entertainment. … I thought it was the logical next step for KidsMatter in their larger fundraising agenda…so I proposed it.”

Any high school soloists or small groups in instrumental music, vocal music, dance or theatre are encouraged to audition.  Requirements are posted on Kidsmatter2us.org.