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More than 250 vocal supporters, friends and family members cheered, roared and clapped for their favorites at the 2013 Operation Rising Star competition held Sept. 20 at Armstrong’s Club in Kaiserslautern.
Eleven local singers competed with a wide range of music from country to Broadway.
The enthusiastic crowd and three judges helped push Army spouse Chelsea Pippin into first place for her rendition of “Titanium,” by Sia, earning her the $500 grand prize.
Pippin, wife of Army Sgt. Kevin S. Pippin, will be entered into the Army-wide competition for a chance to compete in the live semifinals held in December in San Antonio.
Another Army spouse, Christina Lewis, sang her way to the $250 second place prize with her version of the country ballad “Blue,” by Leann Rimes.
Third place winner, Sgt. 1st Class Marvin Williams of HHD 212th Combat Support Hospital got the audience grooving with his version of “Vehicle,” by the Ides of March, which helped him take home the $100 prize.
The most supportive unit was the 7th Civilian Support Command, whose cheers for Master Sgt. Johnnie Davis won the ORS “Spirit Award” and a $300 cash prize.
ORS is in its ninth year and is an annual vocal competition open to all active-duty service members and their family members who are 18 or over. KMC Onstage and Armstrong’s Club teamed up to host this year’s competition along with IMCOM and Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
KMC Onstage Director Nate Records said he was pleased with the talent this year. “Our first elimination round was held on Sept. 12. We chose 11 very different singers,” he said.
Records said the musical mix made for an exciting evening.
“We had country, rock, blues, Broadway musicals and even ‘The Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy.’ That kept the audience surprised, and they really enjoyed the variety,” he said.
Three judges with extensive music and performance backgrounds not only rated each singer, but also gave critiques and offered tips to each singer.
Before being heard daily on Armed Forces Network the Eagle, Airman 1st Class Benjamin “Eli” Smith was signed with a major record company. His single, “Still Miss You,” made the U.S. Top 100 chart in 2008. Smith is also a vocal coach and singing instructor.
Jacqui Haggerty, special events director for U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, has an extensive performance background, including working with recording artists such as Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Restless Heart, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jamie O’Neal.
“The best part of sitting on the judging panel is getting to meet the amazingly talented folks in our military community,” Haggerty said. “There is so much talent out there that often goes unnoticed. Programs like this one provide a unique venue for aspiring vocalists to pursue their dream, while at the same time exposing them to the various programs our garrison has to offer.”
Mindy Malenius is the theater specialist at Baumholder’s Hilltop Theater. She has her Master of Music degree in vocal performances and has been teaching voice for 20 years.
Dane Winters, Installation Management Command-Europe and U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz entertainment director, said ORS is an important showcase for local talent.
“ORS is Army Entertainment’s premiere vocal competition and lets us show off the amazing talent here in our military community,” Winters said. “We had some very talented singers competing.”
Winters said the prizes and the competition are not the most important thing about ORS.
“A couple of the singers had not been on stage for a long time and were pretty nervous. They really had to push and challenge themselves. But each and every one of them told me it was worth it and swore they were going to keep singing. Seeing the joy on their faces as they discovered how much they missed singing was really inspirational to me,” Winters said. “That is where our entertainment programs really touch lives and can directly affect emotional resiliency, well-being and mission readiness. It made them happy, which makes them stronger.”
