CENTERVILLE — The American Idol TV show has nothing on a group of eight talented young women from the Miami Valley who'll be having a "sing off" for the title "Gem City Teen Idol 2007" June 30.

The Gem City Chorus,

five-time international singing champions, based in Centerville, is sponsoring the show, titled Make Mine Barbershop, and will be displaying their quartet talents at the show, which will begin at 7 p.m. at Northmont High School, 4916 W. National Road, Clayton.

The talent search began

May 5, when eight girls were selected in first-round auditions at the Gem City chorus hall behind Marion's Piazza in Centerville.

On May 29, second-round auditions were held to select four semifinalists for the June show.

As it turned out, Jean Barford, director of the chorus, obviously no Simon Cowell, decided to carry forward all eight girls to the June show.

"She felt they were all excellent," said Julie Zalewski, the show's promoter. The judging was performed by Gem City's music team, Zalewski said.

First prize for the winner will be $250, and each girl will get to sing a song with the chorus as backup. The audience gets to cast the deciding vote at the show.

The show also will feature the special guest quartet, Tonal Vision, this year's winners of the Catch a Rising Star contest, a competition that fosters the love of four-part a capella singing among a new generation of singers, Zalewski said.

According to Anne Boyd, show chairman, profits from the show will be used to help with current community projects.

The group sends several girls to Harmony Camp in Columbus each year, where they learn barbershop-style singing, and one person will be sent to the Harmony Festival in Cincinnati this summer.

Proceeds also are used for prize money. Second prize is $150; third, $100; fourth, $50.

The eight girls vying for the title include:

Alexandra Sedlak, 17 and an 11th-grader at Miamisburg High School, is the daughter of Miamisburg police Chief John Sedlak. Born in Toledo, Sedlak has been singing since age 5. She's in drama club and dance, plays guitar and piano by ear, and is a member of a madrigal singers group. Her favorite artists: John Lennon, Sheryl Crow and Mariah Carey. She hopes one day "to perform on Broadway and fulfill my musical dreams," she said.

Lauren Kelly, 17 and an

11th-grader at Kenton Ridge High School in Springfield, has been singing since birth.

"Really, my mother says I never cried, just sang," she said. "I have sung in public since age 5," she said.

Kelly's in her school choir and the singer for her high school jazz band. She plays trombone in the high school band and has sung at various area festivals. She plans to audition for the American Idol TV show this year, and to go to OSU and major in music performance and education.

Mindy Terrell, 16, is a junior at Tippecanoe High School. A native of Dayton, she has participated in choir since third grade and has been in a numerous musicals. She plays piano and bass guitar and admires the music of Josh Groban and Celine Dion. Terrell plans to major in music education in college. She attended the Sweet Adeline's Region 4 Harmony Camp the past few summers and was in the all-state choir this year.

D.J. Gardner, 15, of New Alexandria is a ninth-grader at Brookville High School. Born in Dayton, she began singing at age four. She's a varsity cheerleader and in her school choir. Her favorite music is R&B. Her favorite artist: Whitney Houston. Gardner hopes to become a professional singer.

"I love to sing," she said.

Sarah Cavender, 18, just graduated from Northmont High School in Englewood. A Dayton native, she started singing in first grade and has been an Irish dancer since then. Cavender sings in her school and church choirs and takes private voice lessons.

"I really like opera," she said. Her favorite song: Think of me from Phantom of the Opera. She aspires to be an opera singer.

Brianne Drury, 17, is an 11th-grader at Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City. Born in Dayton, she started singing "when I learned to talk," she said. Her mother, Jodee Zicka-

foose, and grandmother, Donna Stupp, are both active Gem City Chorus members. Drury's choir director at school is Deb Bringman, an assistant director of the Gem City Chorus. She'd like to be a radio disc jockey/work in the music field.

Dani Borum-Gee, 15, is a ninth-grader at Kettering-Fairmont High School. A Georgia native, she's been singing since age 2. She sings in the school chorus and plays the violin. She likes R&B and gospel. Borum-Gee's favorite singer: Beyoncé. She hopes to make a living singing, acting and dancing, and sees the June contest as "an opportunity to show my talent."

Sarah Madeline Reeves, 17, graduated from Bethel High School in Tipp City this May. Born in Kettering, she started singing from the moment she could talk. She has been in her school and church choirs, school plays and competitions around the region. Her aunt, Connie Woosley, and her aunt's husband, Irv, have been managers for country singer George Strait. Her favorite music: any song from Mariah Carey.

"It would be an honor and a dream come true to be chosen by my community for my talents," she said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2341 or kullmer@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Make Mine Barbershop

What: Gem City Chorus-sponsored competition among eight Miami Valley girls/and music from Gem City Chorus quartets and Tonal Vision quartet

Where: Northmont High School, 4916 W. National Road, Clayton

When: 7 p.m. June 30

Cost: General admission, $12; students, $10. Group discounts are available.

For tickets or more information: Call the chorus at (937) 433-1014 or visit the Web site at www.harmonize.com/gemcity. Tickets also will be available at the door.