Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
Christa Callahan
Brownstown, MI
My name is Christa Callahan I am 13 years old from
Brownstown. I am a 7th grader at Shumate Middle
School. I'm a member of DYPAC and I've been there for 2
years. I'm also a dancer at Trenton School of Dance and I
have been dancing for 10 years. I enjoy hanging out with
my friends and family. I also enjoy singing, acting,
dancing, and playing the flute in my school band.
Nicole Johnson
Woodhaven, MI
I've been married for 8 years to my
husband, Jeremiah. We have four boys, 7,
6, 4, and 2 years old. We just moved from
Washington State in June of 2011 to
Michigan. I've loved singing my whole life.
I'm self-taught as a singer, and work parttime
as a server at Big Bear Lodge and as a
karaoke host for Rush Entertainment. I'd
love to find more opportunities to play with
other area musicians, and love Christian,
country, folk, and indy-pop styles of music.
My favorite artists are Patsy Cline, Adele,
Sara Bareilles, and Brandi Carlile.

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
Cheyenne Paonessa
Trenton, MI
Cheyenne Paonessa is a 19 year old student at University of
Michigan Dearborn. She is active in cheerleading, choir, and
theatre. She has performed in classics such as Guys and
Dolls and Smokey Joes Café. She has auditioned for
American Idol and the X-factor. Her favorite movie is The
Lion King. Her family and friends have been there to support
her through it all.
Scarlett Moore
Taylor, MI
Scarlett Moore, originally from Detroit, MI is a
59 year old singer, songwriter, and musician.
She is married and has two children and six
grandchildren. She is the lead singer for World
Band KINDRED NATION, she privately teaches
voice, piano and guitar. She is also the Music
Director for Living Word Worship Center in
Brownstown, Michigan and Voice coach for
Faith Christian Assembly in Melvindale,
Michigan.

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
George Gullen
Southgate, MI
Janette Molenkamp
Riverview, MI
George Gullen is a retired college professor. He
retired in 1999 from Henry Ford Community College
where he taught mathematics, statistics and
computer programming.
Janette, 33 from Orrville, Ohio moved to Michigan with her husband of seven
and a half years. They have lived in Riverview for nine years. She is the
mother of a three year old girl and an eleven month old boy. She is a
contingent RN at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital.
George has sung in many local choral groups including
Grosse Ile Chorale, Seaway Chorale, and Downriver
Community Voices.
George and his wife Judy have resided in Southgate
for 44 years.

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
Alexis Stockdale
Grosse Ile, MI
Olivia Anderson
Southgate, MI
Olivia Anderson of Southgate, thirteen turning
fourteen on January 29 th has always wanted to
be a professional singer. She states that she gets
her talent from her father who was a singer in a
band. She works hard to obtain her goals and
gets lots of support from her friends and family.
They are very close.
Alexis Stockdale, fifteen from Grosse Ile. Originally from the
Southwest, where at the age of eight she was introduced to
musical theater by her parents. One regular family outing
was attending bi-monthly performance of Broadway classics
at the quaint local playhouse "Arizona Broadway Theater" in
Peoria, Arizona. Alexis remembers “It was there that I first
participated in a live musical production as the culmination
of an ABT summertime theater workshop for kids”. Since
moving to Michigan in 2008 she has twice had the
opportunity to participate in the Michigan Opera Theater's
July children’s productions. These experiences and the
musical mentors along the way have significantly influenced
and broadened her musical tastes to include classical music and opera (which is her new favorite thing).

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
Pamela Jackson
Trenton, MI
Born and raised in Wyandotte Pamela; at 14
started her classical training with Dr. Robert Wolf
at St. Michael’s in Monroe where she was a
cantor, choir member and soloist. Pamela
Graduated from St. Mary’s Academy High School
and Monroe County Community College with an
Associate of Commerce Degree. “Singing is my
first passion. I also enjoy dancing, cooking &
baking, fishing and am an avid gardener”.
Pamela’s singing accomplishments include:
Wedding and church choir concert soloist since 1975, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp 1977, Papal Choir 1987,
Member of St Timothy’s music ministry in Trenton as a cantor, choir member and soloist for 28 years,
2008 Trenton Scarecrow Idol, Downriver Idol Semi-finalist 2010, 2011 and now 2012, Trenton’s Roar Idol
finalist 2011, State finalist 2011 and 2012 for Karaoke Battle USA.
Pamela is involved with fundraising for the Knights of Columbus and Holy Cross Children’s Services
(HCCS) and has 27 years of banking experience and is currently employed at Metro Shores Credit Union.
Katherine L. Fuller
Wyandotte, MI
Katherine Fuller is a 10yr. old straight A student who enjoys
reading, movies, volunteering, playing with friends and most of
all SINGING! Katherine showed an interest in singing early on in
her life and has taken professional voice instruction for the past
two years. She sings in her church choir and performs with
Wyandotte Academy Youth Choir (W.A.Y.C.).

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
Erika Johnson
Melvindale, MI
Erika Johnson is a 30 year old resident of Melvindale,
Michigan. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Erika
is the daughter of Brenda Wilson and the
granddaughter of the late great Jackie Wilson who is
known for hit songs such as “Lonely Teardrops” and
“To Be Loved”
Erika has been singing secretly since childhood; until
her mom heard her mom heard her singing in the car
on day. From that point on she has been singing ever
since performing at venues such as the Michigan
State Fair and the African American Festival in
Detroit, Michigan. Erika has also performed an
original song for Jessie Jackson’s 2 nd Tuesday event during the 2004 Presidential Campaign. In addition
Erika sings praise and worship with her mom and sisters and plans to continue singing as long as she has
the gift.
Emma Adelle Rathfon
Brownstown, MI
Downriver Idol was a stumble upon moment while
visiting the mall. Nine year old Emma had no idea what it
was about, but was extremely excited when she learned
she would be able to perform. She listens to an array of
music ranging from: Adele, Journey, Metallica, Ozzy
Osborne, and Britney Spears to Taylor Swift. She is in the
process of learning how to play piano while she's an
Orange Belt in Karate and plays softball and is a great
swimmer. She has performed at Southpoint Community
Christian Church which she attends along
with Parsons Elementary Talent Show.

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
Amanda Pagac
Southgate, Michigan
Sterling Guerra
Southgate, MI
Sterling is an eighteen year old who spent most of her childhood in eastern
KY; she lives with her older brother and parents. Music is the greatest part
of her life. She currently works at KFC in Southgate and will start College in
the fall at Wayne County Community College and then transfer to Berkeley
College of Music in Mass. Sterling’s ambition in life is to teach music to
deaf children.
Amanda is ten years old and in the 5th grade at Allen Elementary in
Southgate. She is on the Safety Patrol, plays basketball and softball and
she loves writing and drawing.
Her favorite thing to do is to sing and she is very happy to be a part of
the Downriver Idol.
Arianna Bardori
Newport, MI
Arianna is from Newport Michigan and is a junior
contestant in the Downriver Idol competition. She is
sixteen years young and is in the midst of her third year
attending Monroe Jefferson high school. Arianna has
been singing since she could talk, and from the time she
was eight till she was thirteen, she competed in American

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
Guild of Music competitions, both regional and national, and local talent shows as well. Arianna enjoys
playing guitar and writing her own music as well as covering her favorite artist’s songs. Arianna is very
grateful to have been given this opportunity to be a part of Downriver Idol and she wishes all of her
competitors the best.

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
Lara Semetko
Grosse Ile, MI
Lara is a student at Central Michigan University with a
double major in Vocal Performance and Music
Education under the tutelage of Professor Cora
Enman. Born and raised on Grosse Ile , Michigan ,
Lara is an active participant in a variety of charity,
collegiate and community events.
Her versatile and vibrant performances have thrilled
audiences in Europe, Canada and the United
States. In the past year, Lara performed with the Edge
Productions “Almost Winter” Concert, Ontario, the
featured soloist with CMU’s 2011 Women Chorus,
European Tour, Musetta in CMU’s production of La Boheme, was seen in Concert at the Grosse Ile
Commons, as well as the featured entertainment at the William Penn Association’s 125 th National
Convention Gala in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Whether it be singing or breathing life into a character, Lara’s genuine passion for the stage has
endeared her to young and old alike. She was recently honored as the 2011 Young Performer by the
Downriver Council for the Arts. Lara was also selected as the 2010 Wayne County Young Artist Award,
2010 Detroit Hungarian Arts Scholarship, 2010 Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship, 2010 American Guild of
Music Broadway and Classical Champion and the 2010 Young Vocal Artist, by Delta Omicron, Central
Michigan University.
Ellen McCartney
Grosse Ile, MI
Ellen, age sixteen, began singing at age seven in the
Wyandotte Academy Youth Choir. Currently she sings in the
Madrigal choir at Grosse Ile high school. She also plays violin
in the Dearborn Youth Symphony and takes both piano and
voice lessons. She’s a junior in high school and loves to act.

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
Katie Kurilko
Trenton, MI
Katie, a fifteen- year old sophomore at Trenton High school
has been performing since age three and has taken dance
lessons from Linda Lazorka for 12 years. She studied piano
with Kathy Sharp and Doris Richards and is a member of the
Trenton HS Band and performs in musicals at school, a
member of DYPAC, and with Southgate Community Players.
She is also a member of the THS girls swim team and the
organist for Christ the King Episcopal Church in Taylor.
Andrea O’Dell
Woodhaven, MI
Andrea Lynn O’Dell (Maiden name Ford), a
34 year old raised in Woodhaven, MI.
Comes from a musically talented family.
She started piano lessons at the age of five
and by the time she was seven she began
playing the hammered dulcimer and won
states by the age of eight. She placed 3 rd in
nationals the following year. She plays the
drums, guitar, French horn, and sings. She

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
has two children a boy named Seth age sixteen and a girl named Olivia age six. She is engaged to Dwain
Bielby a childhood friend.

Downriver Idol 2012 Semi Finalists
Dave Martin
Wyandotte, MI
Dave Martin has been a public school vocal music
teacher for 16 years, and the Director of Choirs at
Robert J. West Middle School for 14 years. His
current choirs at West number 150 7th and 8th
graders, including an all-male ensemble called the
"Men in Black." He holds a bachelor's degree in
music education from Western Michigan
University, and a master's degree, also in music
education, from Eastern Michigan University. Dave
has taught music at the DYPAC fine arts camp for
many years, and is the lead singer and guitarist for
several bands, including The Classics, The Bel Airs,
and The 120 Minute Men. Dave lives in Wyandotte
with his wife Jennifer and his children Mia and Mason.