Students wanting a chance to prove they can sing to something other than the bathroom mirror can audition for Mountaineer Idol Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m. in the Shenandoah Room of the Mountainlair.
Final registration will be held today between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Hatfields in the Mountainlair.
Approximately 54 students have signed up so far to participate in the competition, according to event coordinator Sonja Wilson.
Host of the event, Dave Slusarick, a second year education leadership graduate major, said he is looking forward to the variety of performers the competition has to offer.
"I'm just excited because there is always a diversity of vocal talent among the competitors," Slusarick said.
Molly Hott, a junior secondary foreign language education major, competed in Mountaineer Idol last year, making it to the top 15, and will also be hosting this year.
"Hosting is a good way to stay connected with the competition," Hott said.
Auditions will include a variety of a capella performances, and five judges will decide which 15 contestants continue on.
Out of the preliminary auditions Wednesday, the top 15 will move on to the first round of the competition Sept. 11.
Slusarick said the competitors are always interesting because "amateur talent and those who have had professional training can be equally entertaining."
After the top 15 are chosen, six rounds will follow.
Each round will feature a different genre or theme that the singers must choose a song from.
The first round will be singer's choice, while the second round will be music from the 1980s.
"We want to make the competition fair for everyone," Wilson said of the choosing of themed performances.
The third round on Oct. 1 will feature oldies songs. The fourth round on Oct. 22 will be country-music themed, and the fifth round on Oct. 29 will be a mash-up of Broadway and Motown themes
Three contestants will be eliminated during the first three rounds.
In the three following rounds, two contestants will be eliminated.
The final round will be Nov. 14 and will feature three contestants.
Each of the final three contestants will sing three songs: a song he or she has sung before, a song he or she has never performed and a song chosen by the hosts.
Wilson said the judges will be different each round, with the exception of Provost Administrative Assistant Shirley Robinson, who will be present for every round.
Mountaineer Idol and sponsor Coca-Cola will also be helping to support "Jessi's Pals" throughout the competition.
"Jessi's Pals," founded by veteran Jessica Lynch, helps to ensure the happiness of children in the West Virginia University Children's Hospital by giving them stuffed animals through charity.
Contestants can donate stuffed animals to help support the foundation.
Participants can also bring in empty Coca-Cola cans and Coca-Cola will send $5 per can to the WVU Children's Hospital.
Wilson and the other Mountaineer Idol coordinators are also planning to work out a sponsorship with the Mountaineer Maniacs, where game attire would be worn on homecoming day.
Homecoming Day and the fourth round of Mountaineer Idol are both Oct. 22.
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