2017 Rock on Palatine Singing Contest Winners Announced

Picture 1: The Adult Division winners were: 1st place Jonathan Lyons (left), 2nd place Brandy Braxton (center) and 3rd place Alex Tangney (right). Picture 2: The 2017 winners of the Teen Division were: 1st place Melissa Ivers (center), 2nd place Melanie Reed (right) and 3rd place Madeline O’Dell (left). Picture 3: The Junior Division winners of the 2017 Rock On Palatine Singing Contest: 1st place Olivia Jaworecki (left), 2nd place Fiona McNamee (right) and 3rd place Isabella Scheiler (center).

This year’s Rock on Palatine™ Singing Contest drew a crowd of nearly 300 spectators who cheered on 27 contestants in Junior, Teen and Adult age divisions. First, second and third place winners were named at the annual event held on Sunday, November 12, 2017 on the Main Stage at Durty Nellie’s in downtown Palatine.

The event was emceed by Rock on Palatine™ founders Melanie Santostefano of Vicarious Productions and Jan Wood of JP Wood Martial Arts America.

The singers performed a cappella, with live accompaniment from a guitar or keyboard or with pre-recorded background music, and competed for first, second and third place.

“We are thrilled that Rock on Palatine™ continues to gain strong momentum, in addition to bringing more and more talented competitors participating each year,” said Santostefano. “We have heard from some amazingly talented individuals!”

Wood added, “This event is a truly labor of love for both of us; we are very proud of how it has grown, and for the opportunity to help showcase local talent.”

The 2017 Rock on Palatine winners are:

Junior Division:

• 1st Place Olivia Jaworecki
• 2nd Place Fiona McNamee
• 3rd Place Isabella Scheiler

Teen Division:

• 1st Place Melissa Ivers
• 2nd Place Melanie Reed
• 3rd Place Madeline O’Dell

Adult Division:

• 1st Place Jonathan Lyons
• 2nd Place Brandy Braxton
• 3rd Place Alex Tangney

First place winners in each category received a trophy, $100 cash prize and certificate; second place winners received $50, a medal and a certificate; third place winners received a medal and certificate.

Four judges determined the contest winners, and included JC Carver the founder, guitarist and lead singer of local rock band Acoustic Punx!; Danél Theron, an international singer and song writer; vocal, viola and violin performer, and teacher at The Music Room in Palatine, Danielle Floberg; and founder of AJP Music Haus, Joseph Preissing, who produces for, and promotes musicians and singers throughout the Chicagoland area.

This year’s contest was made possible by sponsors which included Pan American Bank, School of Rock in Arlington Heights, Jet X Aerospace, All Events Entertainment and Sue Gould of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate.

For more information, visit Rockonpalatine.com.

About The Rock on Palatine™ Singing Contest:

The Rock on Palatine Singing Contest™ has its roots in a former singing contest called ‘Palatine Rocks’ that was held in 2013 and 2014 as part of an outdoor, downtown Palatine event called Rockin’ the Blocks. When that event ceased to continue, Rock on Palatine co-founders Jan Wood of JP Wood Martial Arts America and Melanie Santostefano of Vicarious Productions, Inc. decided to move the competition to Durty Nellie’s on the Main Stage and held the first-ever Rock on Palatine Singing Contest in 2015, the competition’s inaugural year.

Since then, Rock on Palatine has continued to grow, and attracts extremely talented competitors ages 6 to adult from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, who battle it out in different age categories including Junior, Teen and Adult. Three judges determine the winners, who will receive cash and prizes, along with a full year of bragging rights as the Rock on Palatine™ champions. The goal of this event is to highlight local talent, by literally providing individuals with a stage to ‘show their stuff’!

Visit Rockonpalatine.com.