Every year local Jacksonville promotions company Encore Entertainment produces on JAX IDOL, a singing competition formatted much like American Idol, drawing in dozens of auditioners vying for a space in their coveted top 12 and competing each week to win the title of JAX IDOL. One such IDOL is Mark Laduke who took last years grand prize. MOVEMENT spoke with the winner and panel judge in the 2010 season ...
1. Are from Jax (if not, where from and how did you end up here.)
"I was born and raised in Jax. I will be moving up north in January however. I'm not really looking forward to the weather!"
2. When did you first discover your voice, and do you recall the song?
"I actually think my mom first discovered my voice. She would always have me in the school talent shows when I was really little. I guess my first performance where I discovered my voice was in first grade when I sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands."
3. Have you had any professional training prior to competing?
"I have the most amazing voice coach in the entire world. Her name is Lorna Greenwood. I've been studying voice with her for 5-6 years now. She's not only an excellent musician, but she's become a close friend. She's drastically improved my voice and performance skills. And she's given me 100s of performance opportunities over the years. There's no way I could have accomplished my music goals without her."
4. How did you first hear about and get involved with JaxIdol?
"A close friend of mine also involved in the singing community around Jax called me up last spring and was like, "Hey there's this contest coming up called Jax Idol..." A few months later the competition wrapped up and I was fortunate enough to have won. I had become very good friends with Josh (the CEO of Jax Idol) after the competition and we would talk about American Idol for HOURS. He mentioned to me a few months after my season wrapped up that "I would make a really good judge." So, he invited me on the judges panel. I was honored."
5. Tell me what the best and worst aspects were of being in the competition.
"I'm really trying to think hard about the worst part, because there really wasn't anything I disliked about the competition. I guess it would have to be putting hours of work into a performance, and then not getting the response you wanted from the judges. The best aspect of the competition was the performance experience. You can't get that kind of experience anywhere else in Jax. It was priceless."
6. How has winning JaxIdol effected your life and career?
"I've really noticed a change in my confidence after winning. It really gave me the mindset of "I can do this." I would have never been able to try out for music college. The competition also helped me learn A LOT of new songs for me repertoire that I use at all my gigs."
7. What's in the future for you now that you have won? Do you have a web site for fans to follow your progress?
"Well, I am very excited to be judging this season of Jax Idol. We just wrapped up auditions and I was pleasantly surprised at the talent we saw. After this season wraps up, I will be moving up north to go to the Berklee College of Music. I'm really hoping that the music environment up there will teach me a lot and help me grow. I have several studio recordings on myspace.com/markladuke. And some videos (including my audition video for Glee) on youtube.com/markladuke."
JAX IDOL is currently happening every Saturday through early October at Cafe 331 in Downtown Jacksonville - www.331jax.com
