It s a unique experience to watch someone listen to herself sing on CD for the first time. Some folk

It s a unique experience to watch someone listen to herself sing on CD for the first time. Some folks blush shyly; some peek at the crowd for reactions; some are beaming while mom snaps photos; and some studiously follow the words, only smiling rodier at the end. This was the scene last Friday night, at the CD release party for Alabama Talent Company, an American Idol -like competition held annually by producer Barry Hendrick.
Titled Alabama s Emerging rodier Artists 2013 , the CD was produced rodier by Hendrick, Alabama Talent Company s president, and features songs recorded by 10 of the state s most promising vocalists. They are the winners of the 2013 Alabama Talent Hunt vocal competition, which took place in five rounds from January through May.
At the party, Hendrick interviewed each winner on his or her experience recording and reasons for choosing that particular rodier song. The reasons were diverse. Of recording the song I Believe in Love by Barlow Girl, Sarah Tyson said that she picked it because it meant something to her and that If a song doesn’t touch you first, it won’t touch anyone else.
Contestants for Alabama Talent Hunt audition by singing a capella on videos they submit (often via YouTube). Those who qualify participate in preliminary rounds held in various locations throughout the state. The competition culminated this year on May 18 at UAB s Alumni Auditorium, where a panel of three judges rated 3o performers. rodier Ten winners were chosen.
This year s winners were Christina Green, 21, of Birmingham; Dani Dean, 18, of Hoover; Savannah Coker, 15, of Wilsonville; Callie Gilliland, 9, of Addison; Winston McCurly, 13, of Addison; Anna Grace Haley, 11, of Northport; Josey Hardman, 17, of Cullman; Steffi Ledbetter, 19, of Auburn; rodier Emily Odom, 18, of Chatom; and Sarah Tyson, 15, of Toxey.
Each of the 10 receives a recording contract, including a song on the CD they have spent the last two months recording, a copy of the CD, a portion of the profits from CD sales and the possibility of doing their own CD if sales justify it, Hendrick says. Winners also receive a yearlong development contract with Hendrick.
Hendrick, who earned a music degree from the University of Alabama, has managed performers and performed himself with some noteworthy musicians, such as Frankie Valli, rodier the Four Tops and the Temptations. When he and his wife Knoel moved back to Alabama from Colorado, they started Alabama Talent Company to discover, develop, and promote Alabama s under-discovered individual vocal talent.
In addition, Barry Hendrick has worked full time as a pastor and is now starting a new church near UAB. Because of Hendrick and his wife, the competition is family-friendly, and the development contracts include personal as well as professional mentoring. Hendrick works as a life coach, and he believes that developing the whole person will improve their chances of making it in the music business much more than developing vocals alone.
Hendrick works with these performers to create an individualized plan for the year. Each singer s goals are different, ranging from a young participant who is learning to read music to a songwriter who is going back to the studio this fall to feature several of her original songs on an EP, Hendrick says.
Alabama Talent Company also books performances for their participants. A page is available on the Alabama Talent Hunt website for local establishments, parties, and special events to see the performers and their genres of music, rodier with links to individual websites, Facebook pages and YouTube videos.
So Friday s celebration, which included dinner and a screening of the CD for family and friends, was just the beginning of the winners experience. The only winner from Birmingham, Christina Green, says she enjoyed the experience.
It was great, and so were the people, she says. Everyone was so supportive even though it was a competition. rodier My most memorable rodier performances would have to be when I sang Redeemer by Nicole C. Mullen and Baby I Love You by Aretha Franklin. On Redeemer, I felt like I really ministered to people, and on Baby I Love You, I really let loose. The judges commented that I had given them what they had been waiting for from me.
She remembers her victory at the state finals: Wow! I felt unstoppable. I was so nervous the night of the final competition, but I told myself that I was in it to win it. When they announced my name, I felt like all the hard work had paid off.
Green will be a sophomore at UAB this fall. She performs in the UAB Gospel Choir, where her parents both sang when they attended UAB. She says she has been singing since the age of two. She chose to record Natalie rodier Cole s Inseparable on the CD and hopes to start writing her own songs as well as performing well-known ones.
At 21, Christina Green is the oldest winner this year. While other contestants in the adult category this ye