Dana Pierce, Bremen Chamber of Commerce representative and chair of the newly added Karaoke Talent Contest, shows her son, Jacob, 10, one of the flyers she made that are being placed all over Bremen publicizing the contest that is open to anyone who wishes to sing. The first-place winner will be singing the National Anthem at Coveleski Stadium at the Bremen Day at the Cove on July 13 and will receive $100 in Bremen Bucks. Pilot Photo/Michelle Donaghey

By Michelle Donaghey
Correspondent

BREMEN — “Anyone can sing, any age and any talent ability; it is free and if they want to do it for fun and not compete, they can,” said Dana Pierce, owner of the Italian Coffee Bar and the head of the new Bremen Chamber of Commerce sponsored Karaoke Talent Contest that will be held on Saturday, July 5 starting at 6 p.m. during the annual Bremen Firemen’s Festival.

Pierce said that the Chamber was asked by Brian Adams of the Firemen’s Festival if they would sponsor it noting that previously the Festival had held a talent show, but that the event didn’t progress as hoped.
  

“We felt it was something good that the Chamber could do,” said Pierce who said this year’s event was organized in a time space of only “around a month.”

The Karaoke competition will include sound and music provided by T-Stone Enter-tainment and will be on stage at the North Building at Sunnyside Park where the Firemen’s Festival is based.

“They (T-Stone) will have six speakers and a ton of (karaoke) books with songs to choose from,” said Pierce.

Singers who wish to bring their own songs can do so, but they must be in a CDG format. Everyone will be limited to two selections and judging will be based on “ability and appearance” said Pierce ad-ding that appearance does count as “they will be performing at the Cove.” There will be three judges for the karaoke event, though Pierce has yet to confirm who they will be as of Monday, June 30.

The first-place winner will not only receive $100 in Bremen Bucks that can be spent at local businesses but also will need to be available to sing the National Anthem at the Bremen Day at the Cove at Coveleski Stadium on July 13.

The second-place winner will receive $50 in Bucks with third taking home $25 in Bremen Bucks.

Those who wish to sign up for the event cannot pre-register, but are urged to be at the North Building at least by 5:30 p.m. so they can look through the songbooks and also fill out the necessary paperwork. Pierce said that they planned for the event to last around an hour and a half, but it may be longer if necessary. There is no charge to sign up and anyone who wants to come and watch is welcome to do so.

“We hope that next year it will be very big and a very nice event that the chamber can sponsor every year that the people will look forward to,” she added.
 

When asked whether she will sing for fun, being the chair of the event, Pierce was quick to give an answer.

“No, once I get started I never put the mike down,” she said smiling.