Springtime in Vienna means concerts on the Town Green, festivals, outdoor sports, farmers’ markets and Vienna Idol auditions. This 3rd annual Vienna Idol, a music competition founded to raise money for the Khristin Kyllo “Dream Big” Memorial Fund, began its auditions in late April. Semi-finals run during ViVa! Vienna!, Sunday, May 25, on Church Street and finals take place on the Town Green, Friday, June 5.
Vienna Idol was created by Michael Amouri, owner of Caffe Amouri, to support the Khristin Kyllo Memorial Fund. The namesake of the fund died of complications from epilepsy at the end of her first semester at Princeton University in 2010. Kyllo was a James Madison High School graduate and a softball stand-out. Amouri coached Kyllo at Madison in basketball.
The Khristin Kyllo “Dream Big” Memorial Fund, founded three years ago by Khristin’s parents Tom and Julie Kyllo, awards scholarships to local high school students who epitomize Khristin’s outlook, character and dreams. Money remaining after scholarship awards goes to S.U.D.E.P (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) research.
ON APRIL 2, title sponsor Whole Foods Vienna donated five percent of the day’s total proceeds to the fund. Semi-finals run during ViVa! Vienna!, Sunday, May 25, on Church Street and finals take place on the Town Green, Friday, June 5. Fans of semi-finalists “vote” for the winner with donations --- $1 equals one vote. Judges contribute an assessment, as well.
In the two years since its inception, Vienna Idol has raised more than $15,000 for the memorial fund. Amouri praised Whole Foods for its enthusiastic support of Vienna Idol.
Every audition this year has had a moment of remembrance for former mayor M. Jane Seeman who died in February. Seeman judged auditions for two years. When she introduced the first Vienna Idol on the Town Green, Seeman said, “this is what the Town Green was made for.”
Amouri hopes Vienna Idol will become a town institution. “One of the cool things about Idol is that it pulls in the whole community,” Amouri said. Amouri singled out project manager Celia Blalock, calling her the “conductor.” She keeps the train on the tracks, he said.
E-mail igotit@viennaidol.org for audition details and dates.
TO LEARN about or to donate to the Khristin Kyllo Memorial Fund, go to khristinkyllomemorialfund.org.