Coulee Corridor Byway Idols crowned
Jim McKiernan/Columbia Basin Herald<br> Byway Idol Queen of the Coulee AJ Longo, of Ephrata, celebrates as King of the Road Tim O'Donnell, of Ephrata, applauds.
SOAP LAKE — The 2010 King of the Road and Queen of the Coulee were crowed for their winning vocal performances at The Big Event Byway Idol contest in Soap Lake Saturday.
AJ Longo, 18, Ephrata, is the Queen and Tim O’Donnell, 33, Ephrata, is the King.
Longo performed “Heal Over” and O’Donnell performed “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.”
The two were excited to perform on the same stage, and win together because O’Donnell was Longo’s choir teacher at Ephrata High School.
“It’s awesome,” Longo said about performing and winning.
She explained she competed for the title last year and decided to give it another shot this year with a song she’s performed well for the past several years.
O’Donnell explained he chose Bridge Over Troubled Waters because it’s a timeless song. He said he was nervous during his performance because he doesn’t usually sing the genre he selected, but decided to do so because his choir students are always trying different songs.
Coordinator Corinne Isaak said there were several great performers. The winners received $1,000 each along with several prizes.
Other performers included Amanda Cook, of Moses Lake, Helen Terry, of Soap Lake, Ryan Keele, of Othello, and Clifford Breese, of Coulee City.
She explained the contestants all live along the byway spanning from Othello to Omak.
The 2009 Queen of the Coulee Denise Krober and King of the Byway Scott Smith also performed encore performances. The 2010 byway idols will perform at the 2011 Big Event.
The children’s byway idol was launched this year to inspire youth to participate, Isaak said.
Coulee City Elementary School student Kam Goetz sang a country song.
She explained the event provides for great community outreach to educate the public about the byway. Isaak said one goal is to seek a sense of regional community along the byway.
Funds raised at the event go toward the Coulee Corridor Consortium; the organization that protects and promotes the byway.
For more information about the byway, visit www.couleecorridor.com.