Performers will take the stage with Hillsdale Idol, Unplugged for a second year. The music competition is a fundraiser for the Hillsdale County School of the Arts, a nonprofit that provides opportunities for children in the Hillsdale area to experience music.
“Hillsdale is a very poor county, and we don’t have a lot of resources,” said Professor of Philosophy Nathan Schlueter, who organized the event. “We don’t have a lot of opportunity for kids to have contact with string instruments.”
The event raised $2,500 last year, according to Schlueter.
The top three musicians from last year were invited to compete again this year, in addition to two other local musicians. Auditions were held in January to fill the remaining three spots.
“I wanted to make sure the group was really diverse,” Schlueter said.
The new musicians competing this year are senior Jacob Coonradt, member of the student band The Wineboxes and high school senior Sydney Davis.
Junior Isabelle Parrell placed second last year and will be playing again. Parrell said she plans to play “Royals” by Lorde, “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King, and “Dear Hate” by Maren Morris.
“‘Dear Hate’ is kind of my life motto,” Parrell said. “The whole song is about how love is going to conquer hate, even if it doesn’t feel like it.”
She said she is most excited to play “Dear Hate” because she thinks it will move people emotionally.
“That’s why I like being involved in music,” Parrell said. “Music is the art that brings out the most emotion in people.”
Hillsdale Idol, Unplugged also provides a spot for amateur artists to perform, according to Schlueter.
“Music is part of human culture, part of who we are, part of flourishing, in my opinion,” Schlueter said. “It’s important to not just be a consumer of music, but a maker of music.”
Hillsdale Idol, Unplugged will start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Johnny T’s Bistro. Tickets are available ahead of time for $10 or for $12 at the door, which will open at 7 p.m.