Auditions held on campus for pilot taping
There are millions of people and top A-list artists in the world who would die to have one minute with famed producer and songwriter extraordinaire David Foster. Sunday night the Malibu resident drove only two minutes to get to Pepperdine for a talent audition.
More than 30 students tried out for a chance to perform on the pilot taping of “The David Foster and Friends Show.” The melodious sounds of many filled Raitt Recital Hall as Foster and his crew took copious notes on each person singing for only two minutes. Seaver student Kelsie Villahermosa was among the students vying for a shot and was one of seven selected to sing. At the recorded taping Monday night Villahermosa so impressed Foster that he actually had her go up on stage to sing, accompanying herself on the piano. Villahermosa and others performed in the show while being treated to performances by famed singer Eric Benet, whose wife is actress Halle Berry, Maria Sokoloff of “The Practice,” Josh Groban who sang and played the drums and a surprising performance from 13-year-old actress Renee Olstead from “Still Standings.”
Many of the students thought this was a wonderful chance to be finally heard and agreed with Villahermosa when she said “To me this is just one big fat jam session as far as I am concerned, just another great opportunity for me to sing.”
If the pilot is picked for syndication it would be taped live every week here on campus.
Seaver juniors wine & dine with Dr. Dre
Sunday also gave Seaver juniors Jenny Crossland and Kate Whitfield time to dine and dance with rap industry moguls Dr. Dre and Suge Knight. Dre, a rapper in his own right, is more recently known for his 
collaborations with Eminem as his record producer. Whitfield was shocked to see Dre Sunday night at Taverna Tony’s. “I was sitting so close to Dr. Dre at the restaurant my arm was practically in the man’s plate,” Whitfield said.
Meanwhile at Moonshadows, Crossland was surprised to see 6’3” tall Knight on the dance floor. Crossland thought the producer and Death Row Records owner was having a good time working the room. “That’s right, I’m Suge Knight” said the producer as he puffed on his cigar posing for a photo. Crossland did say his dance moves need some work.
“He just can’t move,” she said.
— Met someone noteworthy? Rubbed elbows with record execs? E-mail Paris Dennard at parisdennard@hotmail.com.
March 20, 2003