Local Student Makes it on American Idol

With two yeses from "American Idol" judges Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson, a local kid is on his way to Hollywood for the next round.

Xavier Callicott, a senior at , was briefly seen on the hit reality show on Jan. 19 walking out of the judges' audition room holding a "golden ticket."

"It was just crazy and unreal," Callicott told Upper St. Clair Patch following the show. "I was really nervous with Jennifer."

Callicott's audition in front of the famous judges was not aired, but he wasn't so unhappy about that. He said Steven Tyler told him he was nervous and didn't move enough.

However, he still made it to the next round and said he was able to better prepare for his next performance. He hopes his singing will be shown on TV.

Hannah Lane, an Upper St. Clair High School sophomore, was also glued to the TV Thursday night. She tried out for the show and was part of the crowd at Heinz Field. Although the 15-year-old didn't make it through the first cut, she enjoyed the experience and plans on trying out for more reality singing shows in the future.

"I so want to do it again. It was so much fun. It hurt getting rejected, but you have to go in with the mindset you'll make it," Lane said.

Lane hoped the show would have featured more Pittsburgh auditions, other than just "Patty the Pittsburgh Planker."

As for Callicott's future, he's not allowed to reveal how far he makes it in the show. However, he did reveal he made the first round audition for the Berklee School of Music in Boston and hopes the "American Idol" will help him with publicity.

Callicott said he started singing when he was 11 years of age while living in Korea. He would sing karaoke with his family and friends.

His family moved to the United States when he was 15 years old, then moved to Upper St. Clair when he was a sophomore.

He said he's had no professional singing training.

"I tried out because I heard 'American Idol' was coming to Pittsburgh and I just went for it without any experience," he said.

Watch for Callicott in the "American Idol" Hollywood round.