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Arts & Entertainment

Harper College Student Among American Idols Top 13 Finalists

Haley Reinhart is getting lots of votes and support from her hometown.

The excitement is building as Haley Reinhart gets ready to take the stage as one of American Idol's top 13 finalists.

Reinhart performs a song from her favorite artist at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Fox. The live results show will air at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Reinhart graduated from Wheeling High School and studied jazz at Harper College in Palatine. Reinhart has  performed with Harper's jazz ensemble and jazz lab since 2009.

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The 20-year old began singing when she was 8 years old with her parents’ band. She told American Idol that’s when she realized she wanted to spend the rest of her life singing.

“She grew up in music. Her parents are good musicians,” said Brian Logan, ’s band director.

This is Reinhart's second attempt at American Idol. She was cut from Season 9 and vowed to practice harder. She auditioned in Milwaukee with 100 other contestants and moved on to Hollywood this season.

“Whew! I knew if I kept practicing and tried again after season 9, that I would stand a chance,” Reinhart wrote on her Facebook page.

Logan is not shocked Reinhart has made it this far.

“The first time I heard her sing was a recording of her with her dad playing guitar,” said Logan. “It was crazy good.”

Logan asked Reinhart to sing with the high school’s jazz band. During her junior and senior years, the group performed at jazz festivals in Switzerland and Italy.

“She’s really a talented kid,” Logan said. “She’s so down to earth, kind and sweet, not one bit of drama.”

Lauren Schauer has known Reinhart since they were first-graders at Mark Twain Elementary School. They started singing together in middle school and throughout their years at Wheeling High School.

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“We were both in vocal jazz band,” said Schauer. “She’s got such a beautiful jazz voice.”

Schauer’s sister, Kelsey, also sang with Reinhart in concert choir and several musicals.

“It’s really awesome, said Kelsey Schauer. “We’re cheering for her. I’m really proud her.”

She said she once asked Reinhart her secret to such an amazing voice.

“She said she listened to artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and followed what they do,” Kelsey Schauer said. “She told me to just sing what you feel and it should go pretty well.”

In Reinhart’s “Road to Hollywood” video, she credits her family for her inspiration.

“I would say my family are the most inspiring people I’ve ever met,” she said. “While they don’t have fame and fortune, they’re doing what they love.”

Logan said Haley has the same approach to her singing.

“She sings for the pure joy of the singing,” Logan said. “She has really strong family values and she has a good family. They’ve been very supportive the whole ride.”

Reinhart has the support of a lot of people at home, too.

Local restaurants are displaying “Vote for Haley” messages on their marquees. The Village of Wheeling has a message of congratulations on its website and big “Vote Haley” signs hang at the village's entrance points.

The Schauers will be watching and voting. And Reinhart's alma mater is behind her every step of the way. All are hoping she’ll follow the footsteps of last year’s American Idol winner, Lee DeWyze, who also hails from the northwest suburbs.

“We’re all proud of her. Everyone in the school knows — the students and teachers — and we all vote many, many times,” said Logan. “She deserves to be there.”

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