Local high school student is a ‘Sing Fourth’ finalist

The Fort Vancouver National Trust has announced the winning Clark County high school vocalists who performed on the Vancouver Toyota main stage at Independence Day at Fort Vancouver.

The event included two local high school students who were selected by audition.

The 10 finalists were Nick Stevens, Washougal High School; Rebecca Duncan, Columbia River High School; Rachel Murphy, Vancouver School of the Arts and Academics; Hannah Grazian, Vancouver Christian High School; Yamileth Aguirre, Prairie High School; Annalisa Quarto, Academy NW; Michaela Dale, Hudson’s Bay High School; Ashlee Waldbauer, Prairie High School, Janelle Harriman, Skyview High School & Clark College Running Start; and Michael Ash, Columbia River High School.

The top three performers were first-place, Waldbauer, “Runaway Baby;” second-place, Harriman, “Honey Bun;” and third-place, Ash, “Fly Me to the Moon.”

The winners were selected by a panel of musician judges: Rebecca Freese Brown, lead singer for country band FlexorT; Melody Guy, a Nashville singer/songwriter who is getting national attention with her song “Mistakes Like Me”; Jacob Merlin, a Vancouver area singer/songwriter; blues vocalist Sarah Billings and Debbie Earnhart, vocalist with NuWave Machine.

Contestants were judged on originality, skill, poise, audience appeal and family-friendly content.

The first place winner received a $1,000 scholarship to the college of their choice and a first place trophy.

The second place winner took home a $500 college scholarship and third prize won a $250 college scholarship.

Each of the three winners received a Beacok Music gift card and all ten finalists were given a DVD of the Sing Fourth program.

The vocal competition was co-hosted by Drew Carney of KGW Northwest Newschannel 8 and Kyra Smith, a local singer and performer.

The Sing Fourth Teen Vocal Competition is one of the Celebrate Freedom programs produced by the Fort Vancouver National Trust and is open to high school students who live in Clark County. For more information, visit www.fortvan.org/fourth.