Auditions for The Gift Singing Competition Include Lithonia Event

The Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Owner Operator Association is searching for local performers to take part in an Atlanta talent competition that has yielded more than a decade of local stars, according to a news release. 

The Gift Youth Singing Competition hopes to find and showcase solo musical artists and groups between the ages of 12 and 16 from all over the Greater Atlanta area. Contestants have a chance to win more than $20,000 in cash and prizes.

Now in its 11th year, past winners of The Gift have gone on to perform professionally and appear with national recording artists.

Four open call auditions will be held at various McDonald’s restaurants this month. Three finalists from each location will be selected by a panel of judges, comprised of representatives from the music and entertainment community, to compete at a final competition this summer.

Local McDonald’s owners will host these open call auditions:

• April 5 at McDonald’s located at 5115 Old National Highway, College Park, from noon to 3 p.m.
• April 12 at McDonald’s located at 2791 Panola Rd., Lithonia, from noon to 3 p.m.
• April 26 at McDonald’s located at 2700 Windy Hill Rd. in Marietta, from 9 a.m. to noon.
• April 26 at McDonald’s located at 9502 Highway 5, Douglasville, from noon to 3 p.m.

Interested participants can visit www.TheGiftATL.com to download entry forms for a chance to enter The Gift competition and to review additional detailed information and rules of entry.

Audition line-ups begin each Saturday about one hour before the open call auditions begin. Only participants with proper Georgia residential and qualifying age documentation are allowed to audition. Specific documentation details can be found at www.TheGiftATL.com. Only the first 250 contestants with proper documentation will be allowed to audition at each site.

The first-place overall winner, to be determined in an invitation-only final summer competition, will receive a prize package including a $2,500 education fund and $5,000 in cash. Other prizes include a demo recording session, vocal lessons with a trained vocal coach, appearances on local radio stations and more. The 12 semi-finalists will also receive cash and prizes.

Sponsors for the event are the Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association and Dr Pepper. The audition events are all open to the public and occur rain or shine.