RB Idol Contestants to Rock the Stage Tuesday

Local youth will compete for prize money and a chance to perform at Rancho Bernardo’s Spirit of the Fourth during the fifth annual RB Idol talent competition Tuesday at the .

This is the first time the talent show is being held before Rancho Bernardo’s Fourth of July festivities at Webb Park.

“This year, we decided to make it a bigger, nicer event so that we could try to make it a fundraiser for the Spirit of the Fourth,” RB Idol Chairwoman Rebecca Burgess said. “We try to do something every year where we have some sort of show before the Fourth of July that might help raise funds toward paying for the Fourth of July event. This year, we just decided to take an existing event that we usually do any way and just turn it into something nicer.”

Burgess said 15 contestants from the  area will perform vocal, instrumental and dance selections during tonight’s two-hour show.

“The kids are going to get an opportunity to actually perform on a professional stage,” said Burgess, whose son, Chris Burgess, placed second in RB Idol 2009. “Some of these kids don’t get that opportunity very often. This is something that they’re all excited about doing.”

Audience members will vote for their favorite contestants, who range in age from 11 to 17. The five finalists will compete before a panel of judges on July 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Webb Park.

First place will receive $500, second place will receive $200, third place will receive $100 and fourth and fifth place will receive $50 each. The top three contestants will also be asked to perform during the Spirit of the Fourth’s evening activities.

“This is a chance for them to earn extra money, but to also get some experience performing on a big stage in front of people,” Burgess said.

Plenty of $10 general admission tickets are still available for tonight’s show and can be purchased at the door, Burgess said. In addition to the talent competition, there will also be an opportunity drawing with prizes such as dinners, golf rounds, theater tickets, jewelry and more.

“The lineup that we have—they’re all extremely talented,” Burgess said. “It’s going to be a very entertaining show.

“It will be a nice opportunity to come out and see some of the local talented kids,” she said. “Who doesn’t love talented young people? I especially appreciate when kids really put forth an effort to show off their talents and try to better themselves.”

RB Idol’s preliminary competition will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, located at 15498 Espola Rd. 

Find us on Facebook and Twitter @RBPatch.