White auditions for ‘American Idol’

    WADE, Maine — Andrew “Drew” White, a 2014 graduate of Washburn District High School, recently returned from auditioning in Portland for the popular Fox television show, “American Idol.”
“A couple of weeks ago I decided I was going to audition for ‘American Idol.’ I didn’t come to this decision with expectations to make it or even hopes of that outcome,” said White.
For White, it was more a matter of making the attempt.
“I simply wanted to say that I had done it; and now I can say that. It was an incredible experience, allowing me to meet a lot of new people and make new friends. It was so much different than what you imagine when watching it on TV,” he said.
“You don’t audition alone in front of celebrity judges. In fact, there wasn’t even a celebrity judge there. There were two producers (one to each tent) and they took you in groups of four to audition,” continued White.
He said each contestant had under a minute to audition.
“Each individual would sing their prepared audition material (15-30 seconds) and then wait while the other three went. When the group finished, the producer would break the bad news that ‘though you’re very talented, the show is looking for something a bit more specific,’” he said.
White said this made sense, considering it’s reality TV, not just a competition.
He said he’s content with the way things turned out.
“All in all, the results were exactly what I had expected, and I couldn’t be happier. I only intended to come away saying, I auditioned for ‘American Idol’ and being able to go back to my normal life with that notch in my belt,” said White. “It was an incredible experience that I wouldn’t take back.”
White, who wrote and performed a song with classmates at their graduation in June, plans to attend Northern Maine Community College in the fall.