India Post News Service

CHICAGO, IL: At a Press Conference held last week at "Food Corner" Restaurant on Devon Avenue, Ather Mohammed, founder-director of Desi Idol announced that an exhilarating Talent Competition under the name and style of "North American Desi Idol 2008" Contest will be held in Gateway Theater, Chicago on Saturday July 5.Ather Mohammerd explained that the auditioning for selection of participants is already under way and auditioning in Atlanta and Minneapolis were already completed.

He said that Chicago auditioning will be held at Des Plaines Theater, Des Plaines, Illinois on 26 and 27 April. More auditions will be held in Atlantic City, NJ, Houston, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Tampa FL and Toronto, ON, details of which will be announced later.He said that the registration could be done online visiting www.desiidol.us.

They will remain open between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day of auditions. Almost all auditions are scheduled on weekends and the venues will be announced and information would be available on the website. This will be open to all Desis between 14 and 28 as of April 25. Desi Idol was founded in 2000 with a view to promote stronger and healthier community encouraging talents in arts, education and entertainment by a group of young men and women lead by Ather Mohammed.

The Board of Directors consists of Iftekhaar Shareef, Ather Mohammed, Monty, Vandana Jhingan, Asrar Shareef, Majid Macri, Fareed Khan and Munna.Besides promoting the talents and recognize artistic idols, Desi Idol will promote local businesses. Finale of this year will be held in Chicago, and the venue for the next year would be announced on July 5, 2008 at Gateway Theaters.