Teen Stars Shine On

Teen Star Santa Barbara started as a small event meant to employ the American Idol model to highlight the vocal talents of local students in the wake of arts budget cuts in the schools, but it quickly outgrew its original home at San Marcos High’s auditorium. A few years at the Granada turned into an annual event at the Arlington before the pandemic got in the way. Teen Star is now happily ensconced at the Marjorie Luke for a second year, where, as always, 10 finalists will compete on stage for the chance at a prize package that includes a scholarship, connections to local musical luminaries and – new this year – a direct audition with the executive producers of American Idol. 

The youngsters are in grades 7-12, and go through a video screening process and a preliminary round to pare the hopefuls down to 10 finalists (and two alternates) who perform at the live showcase, slated this year for February 2. They get to work with a professional mentor to hone their craft in a working studio; while previous pros include Alan Parsons, Kenny Loggins, and Tariqh Akoni, this year it’s the debut of Adam Zelkind, a recently-Santa Barbara-based songwriter, composer and producer with more than 2,600 credits in TV episodes, feature films, records and commercials. Zelkind’s accolades include ASCAP’s Most Performed Music on Television for two consecutive years. 

Previous Teen Star winners have gone on to earn college degrees, and some have found success on Broadway or working in music in Los Angeles, or even right here in town. This local category includes Jackson Gillies, whose out-of-nowhere victory in 2016 proved the competition – which combines judges’ opinions with audience voting to determine the winner – is much more than a popularity contest. 

“He rolled into town, showed up at San Marcos High School and didn’t know anybody before he got on the show,” recalled Joe Lambert, Teen Star’s creator and executive producer, of Gillies’ win following performance of an original song and opera aria. “He didn’t have a bunch of friends packing the house, and just won strictly on his talent and wowing the audience.”

This year’s judges include longtime K-LITE morning show host Catherine Remak, who has participated every year, along with PCPACasting Director Erik Stein and Dishwalla lead singer Justin Fox. 

Two Montecito residents are among the finalists this year: Lila MacPhail, a 10th-grade day student at the Cate School, and Bradley Duran, who goes to San Marcos. Other hopefuls, including two previous Teen Star finalists, attend Dos Pueblos, Goleta Valley Junior High and Solvang School. They’ll be judged on a number of factors, Lambert said. 

“Most important thing is vocal talent, and I tell the judges that they’re professional opinion matters. Also, how did they connect with the song – do they really understand what they’re singing? And how does their presentation come through to the audience?” 

But before all that, the big opening number gathers all 12 young singers on stage to belt out a song as a group, a tradition that brings everyone together, Lambert said. 

“It’s a chance to get to know each other and work together,” he said. “It’s a team effort and it builds camaraderie as they learn to support each other doing harmonies and more. It reduces the pressure of a competition and it’s a beautiful thing. That’s why even when they don’t get into that second round, they’re pulling for the other ones.”

See previous Teen Star shows on their YouTube page, www.youtube.com/@TeenStarUSA, which will also stream the 2025 event live. For tickets for the Marjorie Luke show, visit www.teenstar.us.

Kids Helping Kids: More than a Grammer session

This week, teens find themselves not only among the performers, but also acting as producers, programmers, presenters, publicists, and everything else for the Kids Helping Kids concert at the Arlington Theatre. The student-run nonprofit originated as an AP economics class at San Marcos in the early 2000s, and has grown over the years to raise funds not only locally but around the world, even as it relocated with founder Jamie DeVries to the private Providence School. Two sets of student duos will perform at the concert. 

Of course, an undeniable attraction at the annual extravaganza is the headliner. This year that honor goes to Andy Grammer, the multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter who returns for a third performance at the big benefit concert. Like all the touring acts who play for Kids Helping Kids, Grammer carries a positive vibe, with song titles that include “Honey, I’m Good,” “Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah),” “Best of You,” “Fresh Eyes,” and “Love Myself.” Brad Corrigan, of the indie band Dispatch, opens the show. 

The Benefit Concert was originally set for January 25, but has been temporarily postponed. Visit www.kidshelpingkidssb.org for more information about the new date.