So You Wanna Be a Rock Star?

Tri-City Hospital Foundation's Diamond Ball makes a rock star

Sometimes you just need a break.
 
In the case of three very lucky San Diegans, that big break could actually be right around the corner. On Nov. 2, David Nevin, Sadie Sheldon and Ciela Cayabyab will each perform with a 13-piece band in front of nearly 600 people at the Tri-City Hospital Foundation’s Diamond Ball. They be participating in the Tri-City Rock Star contest, whose winner walks away with a two-day recording session at the prestigious local music studio Studio West. To be held at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, the annual event, which has become one of San Diego's premiere galas, is aimed at raising money to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment.
 
During the party, the performances for each contestant will be judged by guest, with one contestant winning the sessions, valued at more than $2,000 -- complete with Over the Wall Records’ artist/producer Krys Justice manning production duties. Justice, whose hit single “All Night Long” reached was on the Top 20 Dance Chart of 2011, is no stranger to the magic of the studio. Since his breakthrough, he’s worked with Chris Willis (one of David Guetta’s favorite collaborators) and is poised to release his next album, Just Play, in January. But before that, he’ll be working his behind-the-scenes wizardry for the Tri-City Rock Star contest winner.
 
Each of the three artists vying for the prize has a unique story and also has ties to the Tri-City Medical Center:
  • David Nevin, a Tri-City Medical Center Environmental Services employee, is a member of the Detroit Underground, a 2013 San Diego Music Award nominee for Best Cover Band. Definitely no stranger to the stage and the bright lights, he also previously played in a band that opened for Joe Cocker and Ray Charles, among others.
  • Sadie Sheldon is a Tri-City volunteer in the maternal child care unit who boasts an impeccable San Diego music scene pedigree. Her dad, Scott Sheldon, is one of the founding members of the legendary southern California punk band Guttermouth, who found popularity during the unk national outbreak of the early ‘90s. Unsurprisingly, the 19-year-old says she’s “been singing ever since [she] has been able to make noise” and has been lending her impressive voice to Caffeine, a local psychedelic/progressive rock group.
  • Got your TPS Reports in line? The final contestant is Cielo Cayabyah, a Tri-City Payroll Supervisor. In 1995, she immigrated to San Diego from the Phillipines. She discovered her passion for singing when she was just a child and has been stunning audiences at karaoke competitions for years. Needless to say, she's looking forward to sharing her voice with others on a much bigger scale. 

The gala-goers have got their jobs cut out for them; we’re glad we don’t have to decide who takes home the prize. As far as we’re concerned, they’re all winners. Good luck! 

Dustin Lothspeich plays in Old Tiger, Chess Wars and Boy King. Follow his updates on Twitter or contact him directly.

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