Hardin-Simmons Student Chase Cornelius to Audition for American Idol

ABILENE, TX (08/10/2011)(readMedia)-- Chase Cornelius, of Monahans, TX, graduated with a business degree in marketing from Hardin-Simmons University this past May and plans to return to audit some acting classes during this coming fall semester. But in between these two events, Cornelius won an opportunity to audition in front of American Idol producers for a chance to get on the show.

Chase was one of 31 contestants to try out for the Big Country American Idol competition at the Mall of Abilene this past Saturday, sponsored by local FOX affiliate KXVA.

"For someone who has spent most of his life in athletics, Chase has a compelling story and an amazing achievement," says HSU assistant professor of theatre, Dean Nolen. "I think he is exactly what American Idol is looking for.

Nolen holds a master's degree from Yale University in theatre, had an award-winning run on Broadway, plus guest-starred in several television series, so he has a sharp eye for talented performers. Nolen recently cast Cornelius in two HSU productions, The Roads to Home and A Christmas Carol.

Cornelius, the quarterback from Monohans High School in Monohans, TX, came to HSU, in part, to play football. But when the athlete suffered an injury to his shoulder, football was out; conveniently other performing opportunities were in.

Chase just so happened to have signed up for Nolen's theatre class in the fall of 2010 to fulfill an elective requirement, and that's when he discovered he really had a love for performing. Now, after pursuing that new found interest, he has auditioned his way to the real American Idol competition and even gets to skip the lines.

KXVA promotions and production director, Heather Hardin, explained that the competition was American Idol sanctioned, so the winner is assured a spot without standing in line. Hardin says the local contestant's auditions were judged primarily in five categories: talent, appearance, vocal quality, and stage presence.

She says judges really had to work double-duty since the contest was conducted in two phases. First, the competition field was narrowed down from the original 31 to just 12 contestants during a morning tryout. The finale for the remaining 12 contestants began at 6 p.m. in front of an audience gathered near the J.C Penney's courtyard.

For his win in the Big Country Idol contest, Cornelius will go straight into the gates of Houston's Reliant Park on August 26, 2011, for the real thing, something for which he says he is extremely grateful. Cornelius estimates other hopefuls will have to wait in line for up to three days, judging from the lines he stood in during an X-Factor audition in Dallas. "I waited about 11 hours with about 10,000 people. Some had it worse than me – waiting something like 20 hours," he says. "I sang terrible; it was hard and tiring."

Chase says his parents are proud and very supportive, but are still a little amazed because this is something extremely different. "This is probably the last thing they thought I would be doing, especially with my previous interests in sports."

Cornelius says he learned some lessons from the Big Country Idol event, lessons he hopes he can remember when he auditions for the real American Idol judges later this month. Plus, courtesy of KXVA, Cornelius has room accommodations at no charge for two nights.