5 Semi-Finalists Chosen in Southside McDonald's Singing Competition Saturday (Updated)

Over two hundred metro Atlanta students crowded the McDonald's parking lot on Fulton Industrial Boulevard Saturday morning to compete for five semi-final spots in the The Gift Youth Inspirational Singing Competition.

The audition officially began at 8 a.m.; by 9:48, 102 had already registered and begun belting out tunes.

Children ranging from ages 9 to 15 had 30 seconds to impress three judges familiar with the music industry: Radio One personality Magic Man, voice coach Ms. Cinnamon, and 2007 Youth Inspirational Champ Dennis Wheeler.

In the end, four young ladies and one young gentleman prevailed. The five will participate in the final competition on April 3 at the Georgia State Rialto Center for $20,000 in cash and prizes.

The semi-finalists are:

Emily Floyd, a Blairsville resident who attends Union County Middle School.      

Brenaire Gibson, a Riverdale resident who attends Pointe South Middle School.

Israel Humphrey, a Covington resident who attends Liberty Middle School.

Bria Johnson, a Lithonia resident who attends Dekalb Elementary School of the Arts.

Lyric Stephen, an Atlanta resident who attends Dekalb School of the Arts.