Auditions for the second annual Dixie's Got Talent are Nov. 4 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Eccles Concert Hall on the Dixie State College campus. Dixie's Got Talent is fashioned largely after the popular television show America's Got Talent. Dixie's version is open to instrumentalists, vocalists, small groups, and private bands from the Washington County area and Dixie State College. All musical genres are welcome, making Dixie's Got Talent St. George's own little variety show.

The contestants will be split into categories based on their age. Anyone age 14 and under will be placed in the Junior Division, ages 15 to 25 will be the Young Adult Division, and ages 26 and beyond will make up the Adult Division. Those auditioning are welcome to use a CD, private accompanist or perform a cappella. Performances are limited to two minutes, so auditioners are encouraged to pick their favorite part of whatever it is they are performing and rock it.

The winning contestants in each category will be selected by a hand-picked panel of judges, and those selected will then compete in front of the same panel and a live audience at the Cox Auditorium on Jan. 24.

From there, two finalists will be chosen from each division to compete once more the following night for grand prize honors and gifts from local area sponsors. The top 15 will win more than $25 in prizes, and the top 3 will be awarded more than $500 in prizes from places like Megapro, Carl's Jr., The Marriott and Radioshack.

Among those gifts is an all expenses paid recording session for each of the three final winners. Even those who do not end up placing are still winning with easy publicity from the television and radio coverage.

Dixie's Got Talent is a show that promises quality entertainment. The performers bring their A-game, and it's a good thing that they do. The judges' credentials are stacked; they are chosen based on their backgrounds, experiences, and scholarly endeavors.

Dean of Students Del Beatty was not only chosen as a judge last year, but he also helped select the rest of the highly esteemed judges panel, which included KONY Country's Karl Lamar. Beatty said it was a pretty experienced panel, and they all had at least a master's degree and an extensive background in music and performance.

Last year's auditions were a booming success with more than 100 students and community members in attendance to show their skills to the judges. The panel had to eventually turn some performers away and was able to narrow its selection down to just 15 performers to compete on the final nights only after conducting an emergency callback audition. Needless to say, the competition is stiff in southern Utah.

Dixie's Got Talent is not just for entertainment. The proceeds from the event are turned over to the Dixie State College Scholarship Associates, who in turn provide scholarships for DSC students in economic need. The Dixie's Got Talent proceeds provided 14 scholarships for students with financial difficulties at Dixie last year.

Think you've got what it takes to be the next winner of Dixie's Got Talent? Applications are available at any Village Bank location or online at dixiesgottalent.blogspot.com. This, coupled with a $10 application fee, could be your ticket to St. George fame and fortune.

The application and fee are due Nov. 1 in order to reserve an audition spot, but should you miss this deadline, don't fret. There will be an open registration both days of auditions in the Eccles Fine Arts Center. However, there will be a $2 late fee that will be added to the registration fee. Come share your talents with the community. You could be the next star in the Dixie's Got Talent family.

LET CRAZE KNOW IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN USING YOU!!!! THANKS AND GOOD LUCK!