Joe Imel/Daily NewsDuncan McKenzie organizes contestants in the "Green Room" Monday before the Orchestra Kentucky Star contest at the Capitol Theater Monday. Contestants sang a portion of an a cappella song of their choice for professional judges. The judges made comments and selected fifteen finalists for the final round.

The voices rang out loud and clear on the stage of the Capitol Arts Theatre, belting out tunes in the hopes of earning a spot as a vocalist with Orchestra Kentucky Bowling Green.

Forty-eight people auditioned Monday for Orchestra Kentucky Star Search, singing for a panel of three judges in an “American Idol”-style competition.

Ranging in age from 11 to the elderly, and in vocal pitch from bass to soprano, the group of would-be stars was winnowed down to 15 finalists who will perform next week for the coveted spot as a vocalist singing with Orchestra Kentucky at its July 4 concert and other prizes.

Jeff Reed, music director for the orchestra, hit upon the idea for a talent competition to find a singer as a way to attract as many singers from the region as possible and get a better sense of the local talent pool.

“Quite often, I’m approached by people who would like to sing with the orchestra,” Reed said.

In addition to singing at the July 4 concert, the grand prize winner will also appear at a 2009-10 Retro series concert with Orchestra Kentucky and The Rewinders rock band, will make a demo recording, have a professional video performance, a photo shoot courtesy of Alan Davis Photography and have his or her materials reviewed by a Nashville music producer.

“This is opportunity knocking, a chance for someone to get their foot in the door,” Reed said of the chance for the winner to have a singing career.

In the opening round, the competitors sang a portion of one tune of their own choice a cappella before the judges – vocal coach Lisa Van Wye, who has worked with country singers such as Keith Urban; Byron House, a session bassist with a number of bands; and Pino Squillace, a music producer and Nashville session drummer with several artists.

All the hopefuls could more than carry a tune, so in order to stand out, a really good performance would have to be given before the judges.

In the moments before the competition started, the singers were in the bowels of the theater attempting to work through any last-minute jitters.

“Hopefully, this will be a good experience and I’ll do great, but if they say I don’t make it, at least I tried,” said Sayard Kelly, 24, of Glasgow, who sang Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

Kelly works at Bluegrass Cellular in Glasgow, but said she sang often in her church choir and was urged by her friends to compete.

Dylan Holder, 14, of Franklin also sings at his church, as well as in musical productions at Franklin-Simpson Middle School, where he is in the eighth grade.

Holder went with “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” made popular by Boyz II Men.

“I’m a little nervous now, but I’m getting comfortable and into my zone,” Holder said. “I hope that I can get into the top 15, but if not, I’ll strive to do better next time.”

The contestants’ selections ran the gamut – the spiritual “Amazing Grace,” the peppy ’80s pop hit “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” jazzy ballad “Beyond the Sea,” the passionate “On My Own” from “Les Miserables” and a performance of the Hank Williams Sr. song “Long Gone Lonesome Blues,” complete with yodeling.

There were almost no sharp-tongued remarks in the vein of “Idol” judge Simon Cowell from any of the Star Search judges, with much of the criticism constructive and ultimately encouraging.

“I couldn’t see your face, but I could hear you were not smiling while singing,” House said to auditioner Sam Baker. “You’ve got the talent and a great instrument, but you’ve really got to get focused on what you want to do with that instrument.”

When the judges were wowed, they did not hesitate to let the singers know, with Jacqueline Wallace’s strong performance of country song “I Told You So” nearly leaving them speechless.

“I loved that song when Randy Travis sang it and when Carrie Underwood sang it, but you made it completely your own,” Van Nye told Wallace.

A 21-year-old Bowling Green resident who sings in local rock band Micah, Wallace was one of the 15 finalists selected.

Wallace, who also sang a duet with her sister, Chelsea, in the audition, said she picked “I Told You So” because her voice was well suited for it.

“(Country music) isn’t my typical genre, but I was raised in Georgia, so I’ve got the accent in me,” Wallace said.

The final round, in which singers will perform one song of their choice from a list of retro hits accompanied by The Rewinders, will be at 8 p.m. May 29.

Each ticket holder casts one vote to select the grand prize winner.

— To reserve a $25 ticket for the finals, call 846-2426 or visit www.orchestrakentucky.com.