Bainbridge native Clair wins 2012 Ultimate Idol competition

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August 9, 2012

Bainbridge native Clair wins 2012 Ultimate Idol competition

By Mark Boshnack Staff Writer The Daily Star Thu Aug 09, 2012, 09:23 AM EDT

ONEONTA — The winner of the 2012 Ultimate Idol competition said she was more surprised then anybody to have won the top prize Wednesday.

This was the first year that 24-year-old Danika Clair of Bainbridge entered. When she heard her name called, it was “unbelievable,” she said.

“I was just in it to have a good time,” she said. She won $2,000.

For the first time in its 11-year history, the eight-week Townsquare Media event was held on the stage of Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center. The previous five years it was held under a tent at the location.

The singing competition — open to people 21 and older — was sponsored by Five Star Subaru of Oneonta and Community Bank.

Clair is an aide at Springbrook, and “singing is something I love,” she said.

Her final numbers were “Chain of Fools,” made popular by Aretha Franklin, and “White Rabbit,” a song from the Jefferson Airplane. She didn’t consider herself in the same league as the contestants, she said.

“Winning the event has given me something to think about,” she said. “It was an amazing, positive experience.”

Shawn Speller, 26, of Oneonta, took second place, winning $500, with “Higher Ground” and “Overjoyed,” by Stevie Wonder.

“It was one of the best experiences in my life. I love and appreciated all of the support” from family and friends and everyone at the show, he said. “I wanted to give them everything I had.”

He is pursuing a career in singing and acting, and said “I definitely think this will help.” It was also the first time he entered, and it will give him more confidence on stage, he said.

Terri Whitney, 51, of Franklin, won third place, earning $250. This is the fourth year she has competed. She sang “Blown Away” by Carrie Underwood and “Give” by LeAnn Rimes.

“It’s still exciting and stressful,” she said. With the competition being so strong, “you can’t expect anything. You are grateful when they call your name.”

She is an administrative assistant with the Delaware County Office for the Aging and performers regularly in the region with the band Country Express.

Townsquare market manager George Wells said about the event, “the judges got it right.” Judges for the competition were Tom King, Tom Pondolfino and John Thompson.

Not everyone can win, Wells said, but “the talent level is the best we’ve ever seen.”

He said he was looking forward to the event returning indoors at Foothills next year. Not only does it mean avoiding weather-related issues and noise, but “it was a chance to showcase a beautiful theater,” he said. For many of the performers it was their first chance to perform on stage, he said.