LIBERTY – It’s that time of year again when many begin preparing their voices for the Liberty Idol competition. Auditions for the Fifth Annual Liberty Idol begin April 3 at noon.

The auditions will be held at the Rosewood Center in Liberty beginning April 3 for four consecutive weeks through April 24. Performers will be asked to sing accapella in front of a panel of judges. Those who wish may by an alternative method this year. They may drop off a DVD, CD or tape of an accapella performance to the city clerk instead of auditioning this year. Those alternative entries must be received by April 23.

The competition is open to any age group.

Liberty Idol will run from April 24-July 3 this year, with performances being held in downtown Liberty at 7:00 p.m. each Saturday.

The first round will begin on April 24 and go through May 15. 64 contestants will sing a song of their choice for the audience. 12 contestants from each week will make it through to the second round.

48 contestants will compete in the second round from May 22-June 5. Contestants must choose a country music song to sing for the crowd. 11 contestants from each week of the second round will move on to the third round.

The third round Liberty Idol will showcase the top 33 contestants on June 12 and June 19. Contestants will sing their choice of adult contemporary oldies songs from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. The top 16 will then move on to the fourth round.

On June 26, the top 16 contestants will perform a song of their choice. 10 will move on to the finale show where they sing a song of their choice and prepare and second song for the Liberty Idol winner.

$6,000 total will be given to the top five contestants at the finale show. The first place contestant will be awarded $2,500.

Last year’s Liberty Idol winner was Amanda Cowan. Roy Costner, event organizer said he knows there will be a lot of talent again this year.

“I hope everyone will come out and support your favorite contestants,” he said. “Liberty Idol is a family-friendly, safe event that has something for everyone. We have great sponsors again this year. We are bigger and better than ever this year. We hope everyone will come out and spend their Saturday night with us.”