SAFFORD — The list of singers who will perform at the 2023 Gila Valley Idol finals continues to grow.
Judges selected Savanna Clonts, Aubrey Pace and Zaylie Windsor as finalists at the preliminary at OneAZ Credit Union on Thursday.
Pace, who performed the song “Mama’s Broken Heart,” said her mother made her enter the contest, after she teased her brother, 2021 Idol winner Austin Pace.
“I texted my brother, because he’s on a mission in Africa, and I was like, ‘Austin, I’m doing it,’ as a joke. Mom’s like, ‘That’s messed up.’ So she’s like, ‘Now you have to do it,’ ” Pace said.
Clonts, who performed the song “All I Want,” made it to the finals last year. She said that experience helps when singing a cappella solo.
“I’m kind of used to it; I’ve done this for a while and I’ve performed a lot of places,” Clonts said. “The nerves, when you get up there, just go away.”
Windsor, who sang “She Used to be Mine,” also was in the 2022 Idol Finals, being awarded fourth place. She said this year her focus is on a total performance.
“Really putting on a show instead of worrying about if the song is the best song in the world,” Windsor said. “Just really getting into the song and showing that I love the song.”
Three singers will get another chance at making the finals, when they perform at call back night at the Graham County Chamber of Commerce on March 9. They are Jake Espinosa, who performed “Nothin’ on You”; Esther Wilson, who performed “Burn”; and Star Sierra, who performed “Two Black Cadillacs.”
The judges also selected one alternate, Savannah Chamberlin, who sang “Traveling Soldier.” An alternate will be selected at each preliminary and, in the week before the finals, the public will vote on the performances on GilaValleyCentral.net. The top vote-getter will become a finalist.
Judges were 2007 winner Molly Dobell, who also opened the night with a performance of the song, “How Great Thou Art,” 2008 winner Adam Crohn and 2012 Ethan McBride, who performed “I’ll Be Waiting.
There was also a performance of two songs of the youth Gila Valley Chorale, under McBride’s direction.
All of Thursday’s performances can be viewed at Gila Idol 2023 Double R Grill | GilaValleyCentral.Net.
The next preliminary will take place Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Morenci Club. The winner of the March 23 finals will receive $2,000 in cash.
Sponsors for 2023 Gila Idol include Valley Telecom Group; Mack’s NAPA Auto Parts; Richard’s Music Co.; the Double R Bar and Grill; Freeport-McMoRan; Valley Furniture and Appliance; Tyson Richins – Edward Jones Investments; Swire Coca-Cola; Trophies ‘N Tees; Advanced Air Systems; and the Double R Communications family of radio stations, Kat Kountry 94.5 FM, Sunny 102.3 FM and KATO 1230 AM.
