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“I literally felt like I was in labor,” she said afterwards.
The 26-year-old Winona woman was one of a few dozen people who came to Saint Mary’s University on Thursday for a 30-second chance to make their way onto Fox’s TV singing reality show, “American Idol.” Five finalists will move on to the regional competition next week in Rochester. If they win there, they get a paid trip to the national auditions in Philadelphia.
Standing more than six-feet-tall, Petersen towered over many of the other contestants, but she was just as nervous as anyone else. To calm herself before going on stage, she called her 3-year-old son.
She said she would drop everything if she made it on the show.
“My family told me they would never speak to me again if I didn’t try out,” Petersen said. “I have a lot of support.”
Other contestants wiped clammy hands on their pants, shook uncontrollably, and nervously laughed when the judges made small talk.
When they weren’t singing, the contestants showed off their odd talents. One man did a break dance move and a woman yodeled. Mariah Ciangiola did a belly roll, showing off her stomach control.
Ciangiola, 20, said she wasn’t nervous about singing for the judges. The Rushford native, who studies musical theater at Ithaca College in New York, didn’t hesitate to let her theater personality out during her audition as her voice filled the performance center.
“You’re not a shy girl!” said Julie Burgart, one of the contest judges.
Ciangiola responded with a smile.
“Nope!” she said.
Burgart also judged auditions in Mason City, Iowa and Rochester. Those finalists will join those from Winona in the regional contest.
“I look for natural talent that is effortless and fun,” she said. “I’ve seen more good singers than bad.”
Eric Saindon, a 22-year-old Saint Mary’s student, decided not to take the audition so seriously. While some of the female contestants wore dresses and high heels, he wore shorts and a faded Twins hat.
“I just thought, Why not?” he said. “I’m just doing it for fun; I don’t think I am anything special.”
To relieve the pressure of the audition, Saindon told a story about his pants ripping on stage during a performance and sang “Shama Lama Ding Dong” from the movie “Animal House.”
He isn’t sure if he is ready to drop everything to be on the show, but would consider it, he said. “I will just figure it out if it comes along.”
winners
These contestants will move on to the regional concert to compete against finalists from Mason City, Iowa, and Rochester. The winner receives a guaranteed national audition in Philadelphia on Aug. 27.
Emily Kaiser writes for the Winona (Minn.) Daily News.
