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Ashanti Floyd, known as “The Mad Violinist,” helped energize her soulful voice.
And talent scouts galore watched Pearl Clarkin strut across the stage at a recent performing arts camp inspired by the television program “American Idol.”
Clarkin, a La Crosse native who now lives in Florida but spends summers in La Crosse, was among several hundred kids selected for the first-ever Idol Camp.
She attended the camp for 10 days in July, where she took classes from the industries’ top performers and instructors who taught her how to lift her voice to the next level.
“I learned a lot about taking risks and why that is important,” she said.
The 12-year-old daughter of Mark and Victoria Clarkin applied for Idol Camp after seeing an ad during “American Idol.”
She completed an extensive online application that questioned everything from her voice lessons to her experience in play production.
Through the application process, Clarkin was able to explain how she loves singing and someday wants to be a professional singer.
“I really wanted to go,” Clarkin said. “I was so excited when I found out.”
While at Idol Camp, Clarkin opted to take Soul Sounds, a class that had her singing with an all-camper blues band, and Acting Out, where kids performed scenes from various plays and musicals.
“I liked both, but if I had to pick one, it would probably be Soul Sounds,” Clarkin said. “I liked the teacher. He was cool.”
Floyd taught the course that had Clarkin on stage singing, “Shake, Rattle and Roll” with three other kids.
Campers also had the opportunity to attend “Idol”-style workshops that introduced them to past “Idol” stars and popular performing artists.
It was during the workshops that Clarkin met former Season 5 “Idol” contestant Ace Young and wrote songs with Gray. “American Idol” stylists taught the campers how to present themselves during an audition.
But the most fun, Clarkin said, was meeting all the campers.
“Everyone was really nice who lived in the dorms,” she said.
And she won’t have to wait long to experience the in-depth training and see her friends again, she said — she already has been accepted for Idol Camp next summer.
Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424 or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.
