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Scott Hildebrand declared 2021 winner of The Acorn Singer/ Songwriter Competition

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Seeing as how the other

half, Lila Despoix, of the acoustic duo Scott and Lila couldn’t share the stage with him Judge Frank Sintich said to Hildebrand that “you probably get up in the morning and before you brush your teeth, you’re playing your guitar.” at the ninth annual The Acorn Singer/Songwriter Competition, which was held at the theater in Three Oaks Friday, July 16, Scott Hildebrand decided to let the audience decide on the song selection for that evening.

Hildebrand (who’s originally from Chicago) and Despoix met busking in the streets of Berlin in 2019. Since then, they have recorded an album and performed all over Germany, France, Italy, and Sri Lanka.

The plan had been to sing “Told You Once,” which he and Despoix had used to apply for the contest; however, when he discovered Despoix couldn’t make it back in time from Germany, he said he had another song that he could whip out at a moment’s notice: “Serafina.”

“Serafina!” A voice cried out in the darkened theater, and so that was what Hildebrand played.

“I wrote this song for my friend and his girlfriend - they were broken up and he asked me to write a song about all their travels through India on a motorcycle… They’ve since broken up actually, but the song is alive, and kind of time capsuled their love,” he said.

“Serafina,” along with another song, “Mississippi River,” that he played during the second round of the competition, struck such a cord with audience members and the judges alike that he managed to be declared the winner of the 2021 competition. He quoted what Howard Stern said to Eddie Van Halen: “Man, that guitar looks so comfortable on you.” “That’s how I saw you just now, that’s like your jacket…It’s like a part of you, your third arm,” Sintich said. Judges chose three singers/ songwriters from the first round to perform in the second one: Hildebrand, Ollie Davidson (who’s half of the duo Almond and Ollie) and Will Fancher. The decision then laid solely in the audience members’ hands, as they voted on their phones at The Acorn’s website for their favorite. People could also vote at home, as the show was being livestreamed.

First place winner

Hildebrand received $1000 and a guaranteed opening spot for a larger act. Second place winner Fancher received $300, and third place went to Davidson, who received $200.

All finalists will be considered for future performing opportunities.

Fancher, a musician/songwriter from Chicago by way of Boston and Nashville, has had songs appear on stage at The Second City, The Annoyance, and Laugh Out Loud Theater

His chosen song for that evening was “Moonlight and Miller” – a

Dylan Reed Leavitt makes a special appearance Doug Harsch performs The Kids Are Alright Emcee Joe Bisceglia introduced the acts

Isabelle Pouya performs Petals Of Dust

Acorn Singer and Songwriter Competition winner Scott Hildebrand performs Serafina Sandra Thompson, Acorn artistic consultant, with Beth Thompson, Acorn executive director

Will Fancher performs his song, Moonlight & Miller Light, during the first round Audience members applaud the acts

Sandra Thompson introduces the final three, Ollie Davidson, Scott Hildebrand and Will Fancher

song “about people getting back together,” he said.

Aself-proclaimed

“Michigan guy,” Davidson said he grew up in Kalamazoo and moved to Chicago when he was 19. As a part of the Chicago duo Almond (Natalie Alms) and Olive (Davidson), he has appeared on NBC’s “The Voice.”

“It was a fun experience and something I’ll always remember – and I’m sure this will be another one,” he said.

Other contestants were Doug Harsch from South Bend, Indiana; Isabelle Pouya from Granger, Indiana; and Michael Ching from Ames, Iowa.

Judges were Sintich, who has spent over 30 years playing and writing music in bands throughout the Chicago area and Midwest; Mark Moore a signed songwriter/producer for NOMA Music in Los Angeles and studio owner as well as a sideman/ session bass player and currently a member of the touring band for the iconic ’60s group Jay and The Americans; and Terri Hemmert, who has been at WXRT-FM in Chicago for over 45 years and is currently host of “Breakfast with The Beatles.”

The night also included performances by Singer/ Songwriter Competition alumni: Priscilla Sabourin, 2019 winner and Dylan Reed Leavitt, 2020 winner.

The night was emceed by Joe Bisceglia, an experienced singer/songwriter/entertainer who has performed solo as well as with many other musicians, artists, and bands in various venues throughout the Chicago area.

Calling it an “incredibly unique place,” Bisceglia said that The Acorn gives artists young and old an opportunity to “really display themselves and maybe perhaps at some point get a really good start at doing this for a living.”

“Maybe all of you sitting here today may find out this is a memorable night because one of these people who come up today may at some point be playing at the United Center in Chicago and it may cost you $500 a ticket – so you may remember being here tonight,” he said.

For more on The Acorn, visit acornlive.org.