Alma Students to appear on “American Idol”

CHARLOTTE ROCKWELL
PHOTOGRAPHER

JACK JONES
STAFF WRITER

11/11/2024

This upcoming spring two Alma College students will be participating in the show “American Idol”s 23rd season Kaylee Vonderau (28’) and Frank Karl (27’) Alma College music majors auditioned for the show first over Zoom this past year about which Vonderau said “it’s a little intimidating, because it’s so snappy. The judges don’t let you finish your songs, because there are so many auditions to get through. They don’t show any emotions and you don’t know what they like.” 

Both Vonderau and Karl have been performing for quite some time. Karl has been performing on the guitar as part of jazz bands since he was twelve, Vonderau has been performing in front of live audiences since she was in elementary school and usually she has performed with an accompanist from her home town of Pickford, MI but was encouraged to perform with other musicians by those around her which led her to performing with Karl.

However, the pair have not been performing with one another for long, only starting this last summer after meeting at band camp for the Alma College Kiltie marching band. There the two began performing with one another which is when they quickly realized how well they worked together. Karl said “When we had our first rehearsal together, I was just floored. It might have been one of those things where nobody spoke for a while when we finished. We just knew right away.” Evidently the judges for “American idol” agreed.

Vonderau has previously auditioned for other tv shows such as NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and “The Voice.” Before being called on for “Idol.” When asked about the call she said “Honestly, it was surprising, I’ve auditioned for TV shows in the past and been turned down.” The twos 

Due to confidentiality agreements surrounding the shows airing the pair can’t say much about their experience when it comes to the show including when the show will air or even if they will appear on TV. Both are headed out of state for rehearsals later this fall for rehearsals with a professional band for their eventual performance for the show. They have also been allowed to say they are performing three songs, “Crooked Tree” by Molly Tuttle, “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac and “Muscogee Lullaby” a traditional indigenous american folk song. 

This is not the first time that Alma college students have performed for “American Idol” in 2023 now former student Rachael Dahl auditioned for the show and won a golden ticket to perform in Hollywood. There she performed for “American Idol’s” twenty first season in front of celebrity judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. More about this was written by the Almanian in previous publishings. 

Dave Zerbe, director of bands and percussion studies, believes the two are well deserving of their place on the show and believes it reflects on Alma College’s music programs. He said “I think it speaks to not only their talent as individuals, but their level of responsibility at a young age, to juggle this kind of commitment, as well as the kind of students we’re bringing into the music program at Alma College.” 

The twenty-third season of American Idol will air this upcoming year’s spring. The show has had a long run reaching its height of popularity in the late 2000s, and known for producing famous singers like Carrie Underwood, who is returning this season as a judge, Kelly Clarkson and Phillip Phillips.