Brother Zach Kaltenbach, Iota Beta/Missouri State 2014, knew at a very young age that he loved to perform. In the 5th grade he joined the choir program at school and continued to sing throughout high school.
“In college I was part of an all male a cappella group and that’s when everything kind of clicked,” said Kaltenbach. “From that point I started pursuing more solo projects and started branching out as a performer. My main goal now is to have a life-long career in the entertainment industry,” he said.
To proceed with that goal, last summer Kaltenbach decided to audition for the popular American Idol, an American singing competition TV show. During the competition contestants perform for celebrity judges and their performances are voted on by viewers via telephone, internet and SMS text voting. The last contestant standing is the new American Idol.
So what is the process for becoming a contestant on American Idol? Anyone who has watched the program has seen the long lines of hopeful contestants outside of the audition centers, and the contestants in large conference rooms waiting for their numbers to be called – is that really all there is to it?
“I first auditioned in Branson, Missouri. I waited in line with about 800-1000 other people,” said Kaltenbach. “After making it through the first audition, I went to Kansas City a few weeks later for two more rounds of auditions before I was able to sing for the celebrity judges. In reality, there were three rounds to pass before making it to Harry, Keith, and JLo,” Kaltenbach continued.
What is it like to be on national TV and know that millions of people are watching you perform?
“When I got the call that my audition was going to air on national television, I was super nervous,” said Kaltenbach. “I really didn’t know what I sounded like in the actual judge’s room because it all happened so quickly. However, it turned out amazing! We had a huge watch party at my house with close family, friends, and neighbors. Everyone was so proud and so supportive of me for going after my dream. It was a night that I will remember for a long time,” Kaltenbach added.
Kaltenbach remained in the competition for many weeks. His first audition in Branson was in July and he continued to film the show through mid-December – remaining in the competition as one of the top 48 performers.
“It was hard keeping everything a secret for so long, especially when the premiere wasn’t until January,” said Kaltenbach. “It was such an amazing experience and I was so grateful to have made it all the way to the top 48,” he said.
Though there were both highs and lows to the experience, Kaltenbach said there was much to take away from the experience.
“In the beginning, I was very scared and nervous, but with each round, I kept getting better and more comfortable on stage,” said Kaltenbach. “I gave some of the best performances of my life during Hollywood Week and also at the House of Blues Showcase round,” he said. “The best parts were getting to perform for some pretty big names in the music business as well as meeting contestants from all over the country. The low point was getting eliminated right before the live shows, but at the end of the day, it was a blessing to have made it that far,” said Kaltenbach.
Has appearing on American Idol helped his career?
“Oh, for sure,” said Kaltenbach. “Being on American Idol has been a huge step in helping me grow as a performer and I know I’m going in the right direction. National exposure is something every singer wants, and it has helped open up some doors for me,” he said.
So what is next for Kaltenbach?
“At the moment, I’m focusing my attention on writing and recording some original music to release later this year,” he said. “Who knows, maybe you’ll see me on the next season of American Idol,” he added.
Photos courtesy of American Idol.