Get ready to be thrilled by the talent of Dartmouth students! On Friday, February 5, and Friday, March 4, you can enjoy a night with the singing stars of the Ivy League college at the annual Dartmouth Idol competition. The ninth annual Idol is a celebration of vocal talent on the Dartmouth campus. Professionally trained students will sing and compete alongside students who may never have sung in public but are harboring hidden talents. Buy your tickets before these events sell out!

Auditions, which are open to all Dartmouth students, have already taken place  and the best competitors selected for this Dartmouth-sized sing-off. After this round, competitors enter the semi-finals, which take place at 8pm in Spaulding Auditorium on February 5. Tickets are $10 for the public and $5 for Dartmouth students. During this round, singers select karaoke songs and sing along in front of the audience. They are then scored by a combination of audience votes and judges’ scores.

Those who come out of the semi-finals on top go on to prepare for the finals on March 4. All finalists are offered the services of a vocal coach prior to the performance, so all are well tuned for the big evening. The finals, also held in Spaulding Auditorium at 8pm, present a lineup of participants who sing in front of a live band. Contestants sing two songs, one they choose and another chosen by the Dartmouth Idol production team. Some opt to sing with a group to better showcase their voices. The finals present a very talented and diverse group of young people who have managed to nurture their talents while staying on top of rigorous academic demands. Tickets for the final are $15 for the public, $10 for outside students, and $5 for Dartmouth students.

Besides the obvious renown and glory that come with the Dartmouth Idol winning title, a cash prize is in store for those who knock the judges and the audience off their feet. Third-place and second-place winners receive $100 and $250 respectively, while first place awards $500 and the chance to record a two-song demo. The winner will certainly be a celebrity in the Dartmouth world if not on TV.

The finals are a spectacle not to be missed. In addition to the incredible talent of the singers, the audience is alive and engaged, and Walt Cunningham leads a 20-piece band to back up the singers. It’s a night of collective and individual musical talent, and audience members of all ages will be sure to enjoy the electric aura of the evening.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Hop website.