Katrina Marie

by Kristi L. Gustafson

Shes no Kelly Clarkson ...YET. But Katrina Marie Burg, a Latham native and resident, hopes she is on her way to " American Idol" status. Burg passed an audition last week in New York City and will be one of the approximately 125 semi-finalists flown to Hollywood later this fall for the next round of competition for " American Idol 2". Her ultimate goal is to be chosen to be among the 20 finalists competing on television in early 2003, when the next "Idol" installment is set to air.
Burg and several friends arrived a day early for the Oct 21 audition, joining thousands of other hopefuls who sat, lined up, wrapped in blankets and with coffee cups in hand, outside the hotel where the audition was being held.
"We got down there and got right in line," says Burg, who uses " Katrina Marie" as her stage name. "There were still at least 1000 people ahead of us," "Idol" staff issued just 1,800 bracelets, on a first-come,first-served basis.
Burg, a self-proclaimed "huge R&B and soul fan," intended to audtion with "Fallin" by Alicia Keys and "Come on Over" by Christina Aguilera. Fortunately, both were on the list of acceptable audition songs provided by the show.
A lifelong performer, Burg was still nervous to sing for judge Simon Cowell, who became notorious for his sometimes scathing comments to participants on the first " American Idol."
Burg says she saw a completley different side of the multi-hit record producer and head of his own music label, S Records.
"He thanked me and said "You have a great voice and I am very pleased with your performance," she says. "I was so releived I started crying."
Burg is waiting for an informational packet, which is supposed to arrive in thenext two weeks, that will provide details about her Hollywood trip. Burg can't perdict how she will do while in California but some of the singing and performing she'll do may appear when season two of "American Idol" debuts.
"The competition will be tough but it gives me a nervous excitement that I hope will make me perform even better," she says. "A few months back no one had any idea who Kelly Clarkson was. She came out of nowhere. You just never know." - Albany Times Union ......October 31, 2003

By Chester Lastowski

From a family that is focused on competitive ice skating, one child is trying to make her dream of singing become a reality.
Katrina Marie Burg , 20, will attend the World Championships of Performing Arts in Burbank, California Oct 5 to 13.
To become eligible for the championships, participants had to perform at an audition and be selected by a talent scout.
At the audition she performed the song "Fallin" by Alicia Keys for Lynn Rabbish, the talent scout holding the audition. Rabbish, executive talent scout and state director of the World Championships of Performing Arts, selected Burg to perform for the United States.
Rabbish said the level of competition at the Championships is fierce.
"She's going to have it tough," Rabbish said. "This is the hardest competion they will ever face." Burg is one of 500 Americans selected to participate in the event, which hosts 30 nations from around the world. Competitions include dance, vocal, modeling, acting , comedy, bands, instrumentalists and variety. Each category has several subcategories. Performers are judged not only on the technical aspects of their performances; special emphasis is placed on their "entertainment value."
The championships are an opportunity for aspiring performers to be noticed by more than 150 agents, directors, producers, casting directores, record label representatives and others from the entertainment industry.
Dominic Mantuano, a former winner at the competition, said the event puts performers in front of some of the most influential people in the world.
"Never again will anyone get that kind of exposure in front of the right people," he said. Mantuano believes that Burg is a talented young singer and has great direction. "She has a rare sense of "I know where I want to be," he said.
Burg has been working on her singing for the last two years, although she said she has been interested in singing since she was a child. She took voice lessons while attending Sage Junior College of Albany, but said her biggest motivation came during her internship at Disney.
She said Chuck Stewart, her music instructor at Disney, inspired her to perform.
"He had a lot of confidence in me and really encouraged me to pursue a career in singing," Burg said.
Burg will not be returning to college--where she has completed two years studying communication--so she can concentrate on her career. The decision has her mother's support. "It's wierd because my mom is a big college person," Burg said.
According to Burg , alot of things are starting to happen for her.
"My singing is starting to kick in," she said.
In the even her career doesnt't take off , Burg said that she can always go back to shcool and earn a degree.
After the Championships, Burg plans to perform in the New York City area in an effort to get her name in circulation.
"I am happy as long as I am performing," said Burg
She has already performed at several locations in the Capital District, and recently competed with 56 other performers at the Herkimer County Fair and took third place. She will also perform at the State Fair in Syracuse.
Burg said that while she is currently singing a mixure of both Pop and R&B, she is leaning more toward R&B.
"Its hard to decide," she said. "I have a strong, soulful voice."
Burg said she is working on a demo CD of original songs and hopes to have it complete before Oct.
- Colonie Spotlight