Got Talent? Audition for a Chance to Win $1,000

Spots are filling up quickly for a chance to win $1,000 in Geneva Chamber’s Geneva’s Got Talent competition. Only the first 75 applicants will be invited to audition on May 18.  Semifinalists & finalists will perform on Central Stage during the Swedish Days Festival presented by Cadence Health.

The judges for the auditions, semifinals and finals have extensive & impressive experience in all areas of entertainment. Four new judges will be available for each round of the competition.

Audition Judges:

Heather Klaus is a Choreographer/Dance Instructor currently residing in beautiful Geneva.  She teaches all types of Dance at Moves Dance Studio in North Aurora as well as directs iDance, a competitive dance company. When not at Moves, Heather choreographs musicals all around the Midwest
for Professional, University, Community and High School stages--such as West Side Story, Hair, Pippin, Cats (twice), The Wiz, Grease, Oklahoma, Xanadu and You’re A Goodman, Charlie Brown. In 2010 she choreographed Pageant, the Musical in Atlanta with writer/director and Tony-nominee Bill Russell.  Recently, she had the wonderful opportunity to choreograph the Flashmob for Geneva's Swedish Days.

Steve Lord has been a professional journalist for 40 years, the last 34 with The Beacon-News in Aurora, now part of Sun-Times Media. He also is a professional playwright, and a 19-year member of Gag Reflex Comedy Theater, a west suburban-based comedy group that has performed throughout the Midwest. He was a board member of the Geneva Underground Playhouse, and has directed and appeared in numerous productions at GUP.

Eric Elftmann is a music teacher from North Aurora.  He has been teaching general music, choir, and showchoir in the Wheaton/Warrenville schools for the last 11 years.  During that time, Eric has also been leading worship in some capacity at First Baptist Church of Geneva.  His proudest musical accomplishment is being able to accompany the pretend living room concerts put on by his daughters, Grace and Gwen.

Dan Yotz has enjoyed both roles in his musical career which can be traced back to his youth in Geneva.  His musical and electrical interests converged as he continued his studies at the University of Miami.  Extensive study of the recording process has led him to recently open a recording studio here in Geneva.

Semifinal Judges:

Beckie Untiedt owns Graham's Chocolates and 318 Coffeehouse with her husband. She does make her living creating chocolate but has been singing since a young girl, winning many competitions through the years. When her children were small, and the business was just starting she sang on the weekends in venues all over Chicagoland. Beckie and her husband have led the Praise Service at St Mark's Lutheran Church for more than ten years, and now participate in services at Christ Community.

Mary Hooper has a Masters Degree in Music from NIU.  She has been teaching piano at Cordogan’s Piano for the last 22 years and until 2007 had been the Music Director at the First Baptist Church in Batavia for 17 years.  Her musical taste is self-described as eclectic and she plays a variety of instruments including piano, organ, standup bass, guitar, accordion and hammered dulcimer.  She enjoys playing for weddings, special events, and private parties, but most of all teaching and introducing her students to the wonderful world of music.

Trish Brock grew up in Batavia and became active in sports, music and drama, and learned to sing, and play the violin and piano.  While attending college at Illinois State University, she was member of a performing gymnastics fraternity, "Gamma Phi Circus', which is going stronger than ever today.  She has participated in stage productions, mentored young performers, played in several professional and volunteer orchestras and chamber groups.  Currently a mom of two sons and music instructor at Sounds Like Music, she also finds time to be a member of local orchestras, choirs and the worship team at church. 

Marguerite Karl, Soprano, received her Bachelor of Music degree from North Park University and has done extensive graduate work in Vocal Performance at Northwestern and Northern IL Universities.  She has appeared professionally as a guest soprano soloist with the IL Chamber Symphony, North Side Symphony, Downers Grove Oratorio Society, Elmhurst Choral Union and many other professional organizations. She has been a National Anthem soloist for the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs and Kane County Cougars as well as performed at The Paramount Theater in Aurora, Centre East in Skokie and North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. She has appeared with the Du Page Opera Theater as well as television and radio broadcasts in the Chicagoland area and Sweden.   She has served as an adjudicator for IHSA Solo and Ensemble contests, District 8 solo and ensemble contests and numerous High School private solo competitions.   She is the founder and Artistic Director of the Swedish American Children's Choir, the largest choir of its kind in the Midwest.

Finals Judges:

Leah Leman began her study of piano at the age of five.  Growing up, she participated in many recitals & competitions, started her private teaching career at 15 and in college performed and accompanied vocalists, instrumentalist, and choirs.  Leah earned her degree in Piano Performance and Keyboard Pedagogy at Cedarville University in OH.  More recent, she played piano in orchestra pits and taught music in a private international school in Chengdu, China for four years.  Currently, she lives in Batavia where she teaches privately from her home. 

Mary Jane Bankmann, Mike Jacoby and Terry Skreens will also be assiting in the judging of the finalists on June 22.