DYWA and BlueSky sponsor “Le Leo o Amerika Samoa” singing competition

Are you a natural born singer that can hold a tune with little or no effort? Do you think you have what it takes to blow out the competition? Here is your chance to prove that you truly are the “voice” of American Samoa. The Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs and Blue Sky Communications are working hand in hand to host the first ever “Le Leo O Amerika Samoa” singing competition for local youth between the ages of 16 and 25.
 
Registration has begun at the DYWA Office located on the second floor, west wing, of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building in Utulei. Auditions are scheduled to take place on March 25 and 26 and 16 of the top singers will be selected for the competition, with four alternates.
 
There is a registration fee of $20 and each contestant will be given a time slot when they can come in and audition at the KVZK-TV studio in Utulei. All interested parties are encouraged to register as registration closes at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 25.
 
The competition will be aired live on KVZK-TV Channel 2 beginning Wednesday, April 3, 2013 and will run every Wednesday for seven consecutive weeks until a winner is selected.
 
Similar to worldwide popular singing contests like American Idol and the X Factor, shown weekly on national television, singers in “Le Leo o Amerika Samoa” will compete against each other and the winner will be determined by how many number of votes they can garner from the general public.
 
That is why everyone is asked to watch the show and make their selections known through Blue Sky text voting. Each week, those who tally up the most votes will move on while those with the least number of votes will be eliminated.
 
Basically, the winner will be chosen through public opinion.
 
The live show will be held at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium (Fale Laumei) and the public is invited to come out and show their support for their favorite singer(s), in addition to voting through their Blue Sky phones.
 
There is a $3 entrance fee for general public seating. The top winner will receive a cash prize of $1,000.
 
Second place will take home $600 cash while third place will get $300 and fourth place will pocket $100.
 
More information about the competition can be obtained by contacting the Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs directly at 633-2835 or 633-2836. Ask for Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr. or Joe Iosua (JSmooth).