I was a judge today for WGEM’s local version of “X Factor” today that was held at John Wood Community College. “X Factor” is popular former “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell’s new singing competition show that will focus on vocalists and vocal groups.

Due to some scheduling conflicts and other issues, only 61 participants showed up out of 88 that signed up for today, maybe it was the weather or maybe it was cold feet that kept them away. Either way, there was still a lot of great talent.

Contestants were 12-years-old and up and from the tri-state region.

The judging criteria was:
Singing Ability
Originality
Stage Presence
Overall Rating

We saw every type of singer from Gospel to country to Broadway and more. After each of the 61 contestants sang in front of only two judges and no audience in a classroom, then 12 finalists were chosen. The 12 finalists then performed an entire song in the auditorium in front of an audience and the four judges, which besides myself, were Josh Houchins, Carrie Butterfield and Andreas Mannhardt.

Four winners were chosen to make the trek to the Chicago audition and skip the lines of thousands to perform in front of producers of “X Factor” April 26.

And the winners are:

• Jared Keim, 17, of Hannibal

His mother signed him up for the local contest and didn’t tell him until last night that he would be competing today. He plans to sing “When I believe,” by David Archuletta at the Chicago audition.

“I thank God for the opportunities that I’ve been blessed with and the family and friends that support me,” Keim said. “I hope I do good.”
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•  Terry Russell of Quincy

Russell has previously won a local “American Idol” contest with WGEM and is excited for this opportunity.

“I was really kind of surprised when my name got called, because I was under the weather today,” Russell said. “A lot of good talent today, I could count six or eight contestants where I was like, I’m going home.”

He plans to take a popular song and arrange it to make it his own for the Chicago audition.
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• Thadd Gray of Milton, Iowa

His wife signed him up for the local contest a couple days  ago.

“It is pretty wild,” Gray said. “To hear my name called and tell me I was going, it was cool. I’ve never done anything like this.”

He plays with a country band in Southeast Iowa called Midnight Blue. “I’ve done contests, but nothing of this scale,” Gray said. “I’ve never sang in front of that many people in my life that we are going to in Chicago.”

He is unsure of which country song to choose from, possibly Jamey Johnson, Johnny Cash or many others.
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• Aspen Gengenbacher, 12, of Quincy

“I was definitely scared and have never been so nervous,” Gengenbacher said. “When they called my name I teared up, I’ve never been so happy before.”

Gengenbacher’s vocal coach suggested she try out and she plans on singing the same song in Chicago that she sang today, which she sang in a jazzy tone, and was “Summertime,” saying “my grandma used to sing it to me when I was younger and it seems like good luck.”

“There was definitely people that I thought were going to knock me right out of the competition,” Gengenbacher said. “I’m really nervous about going to Chicago and if it is anything like the people who try out for ‘American Idol’ the first time around, it should be fun and maybe I can get a laugh out of it.”

Jessica M. Martin-Cate