Berkner is quarter-finalist

in Minnesota Idol Contest

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- A 19-year-old Sleepy Eye woman who became the first woman to join the Johnny Holm band in its history has her sights set on another achievement.

Stacy Kay Berkner, the daughter of Colleen Braun of Sleepy Eye, has been chosen as a quarter-finalist for the 2004 Minnesota Idol Contest sponsored by KARE 11. She'll participate in a concert to determine the next level of competition at the Mall of America on Jan. 8, 2004.

Berkner submitted a list if five songs that she performed at the Mall of America in October. She became one of 20 quarter-finalists selected at that time. Judges will choose eight semifinalists who will be announced on Jan. 13, 2004.

Television viewers will decide three finalists by voting on www.KARE11.com between Jan. 13-28, 2004. The finalists must be available to cut at least one song in a professional recording studio. A video tape of that performance will be broadcast on KARE 11.

Viewers will vote for the overall winner on www.KARE11.com between Jan. 30 and Feb. 18, 2004. The winner must be able to appear on KARE-11 News Sunrise on Feb. 19, 2004.

Johnny Holm discovered Berkner when she sang during one of his family show performances at Valley Fair in 2001. She joined the band not long after that and now travels with it five days a week.

Berkner also writes her own music and is working on a demo compact disc.

She set herself apart from the crowd early. At age four, she won the Miss Petite Minnesota Contest, singing Disney's "Somewhere Out There." Years later, she and her mother were buying a guitar at Rhapsody Music in Mankato. Stacy Kay began singing and got the attention of musicians.

Berkner started her own high school band. They couldn't think of a name so they called it "Blank." The group won the Minnesota State 4-H Contest.