Bar1 Events Opened Doors for Its 9th Annual Big Break Vocal Contest offering $20k in Prizes.

CHICAGO - June 25, 2013 - PRLog -- The 9^th Annual Big Break, Chicagoland’s grueling eleven-week vocal competition is back. Duffy’s Tavern & Grille, on Diversey & Halsted has transformed their unpretentious stage into a rock hall, illuminated by elaborate stage design, professional lighting and amped up digital sound. Hundreds of contestants will jump on stage to kick off the battle, singing their way towards a $20,000 prize pot for top winners.

While the money is a huge motive for contestants to participate, many do it just for the chance to perform on stage, be seen by other local talent and practice their skills in front of new audiences. Local celebrities, like Andrew Vega, better known as Sakk Wylde, lead vocals and known bad boy of Hairbanger’s Ball, have also been known to come out and play.

“We all know that the only way you get better at something is by testing your abilities, and Big Break allows you to do so by competing amongst other amazing vocalists. The experience itself is nerve racking yet rewarding even if you don't win the whole thing. You get the opportunity to make new friends, network and start making a name for yourself ... oh, and possibly win 15k,” said Vega, aka Wylde.

The contestants’ abilities will be put to the test in front of well-known Chicago industry professionals and vocal artists, Kelli Ann Lotrich, Jim Wojdyla, Aaron Streich and Shannon Yohan (Stevenson). Once the top 25 has been chosen, their fate resides in the hands of the Big Break fans, where one lucky winner will take home the $15,000 Championship Prize.

Registration is free and open until Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 8:00pm. Voting rounds will take place every Monday through August 5, 2013.

About the judges:

Kelli Ann Lotrich has been a part of the Big Break family for the past several years.  She is the Owner & Vocal and Talent Coach of Four Winds Vocal Artistry, working with Grammy and platinum recording artist, and is the lead singer of the band Who Knew.   She won the prestigious “Young Performers Award” at Carnegie Hall at age 19, while studying voice and violin at the Conservatory for the Arts of Wittenberg University and continued her studies at DePaul University in the Honors Program in Music Performance and Psychology.  

Jim Wojdyla is coming back to Big Break for a third year as a judge.  He is the dynamic lead singer of the popular band Modern Day Romeos and also plays in the acoustic duo Jim & Justin alongside his brother.  Jim is widely regarded by peers and fans as the most entertaining and engaging frontman in the Chicago music scene.  He studied improve comedy at The Second City and earned a Public Relations degree from Columbia College.  In addition to singing, Jim occasional fills in on the 95.1 WIIL Rock Morning Show.

Aaron Streich is returning for another year of Big Break after first joining the panel two years ago.  Aaron is the drummer and background singer for the band Mike and Joe who continue to be the highest drawing and most watched cover band in the Midwest.  He completed a Music Performance Degree from Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana.

Shannon Yohan (Stevenson) has come a long way since his singing career began in his local church choir when he had a solo debut at the age of five.  Growing up, he was part of the prestigious All City Elementary Youth Chorus and trained at Merit Music program where he studied the upright base and music theory.  He attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received a BA in Communications and developed his second threat – acting.  His most recent accomplishments include filming an episode of ABC’s Karaoke Battle USA at Chicago’s House of Blues, opening for Grammy Award winner Kirk Whalum at the legendary Regal Theatre, creating original tracks as an Urban Pop artist, unveiling his group Shannon Yohan & Freedom and winning the 2011 Bar1’s Big Break championship title.