Inside her living room, 7-year-old Snoqualmie Elementary School student Shaye Hodgins stops mid-way through her version of “Tomorrow” from the musical “Annie” and asks her mom if a note that escapes her lips should be a “belt note.”

She wants to make sure that the she hits the highest level of the from-the-gut note that she can.

As one of about 15 competitors aged 14 and younger singing in the upcoming Sno Valley Idol Jr. Season II, Hodgins takes her rehearsals seriously, while still managing to have fun.

“I’m very excited and I just want to have fun,” Hodgins, who loves to sing, said about the event. “I don’t care if I lose or win because it’s just a fun thing.”

The competition takes place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 24, at the Si View Community Center in North Bend. Harley Brumbaugh, director of Voices of the Valley will emcee this year.

Sixth-grade Chief Kanim Middle School student Shannon McEldowney, who spent time rehearsing with Hodgins, will also be performing. A member of Chief Kanim’s Leadership Program who also performed in the school’s December talent show, she will be singing John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

“I’m doing it just because I love to sing,” she said about the competition.

The winner of the show, as decided by audience vote, will receive a $50 gift certificate and performance opportunities including competing in this fall’s Puyallup Fair Battle of the Idols, which pits winners from all over Washington against each other in one night of musical competition. Auditions for Sno Valley Idol were held in February.

Last year’s winner at the Sno Valley competition and the runner-up for the 2005 Puyallup Fair Battle, Jessica Oliver, sang Martina McBride’s “Happy Girl.” The current junior at Mount Si High School was a sophomore at the time. (The first year of the contest was open to those 18 and younger; this year there will be a different local competition for those 15 and older in June).

“I didn’t know what to expect,” said Oliver, who is also in band and involved with sports. “It was such a rush.”

Oliver is now recording a demo CD with a local record producer.

She has also had the opportunity to sing during Snoqualmie’s Railroad Days. She is even thinking about auditioning for television’s hit reality show “American Idol” and contemplating a professional career in music.

The Sno Valley talent show is based on “American Idol.”

“It was a fun experience,” said Oliver. “I think we need to have things [in the Valley] where people can show off their talents to the community and have the community support them.”

The Si View Metropolitan Parks District works in partnership with Encompass to present the competition as part of the Encompass “family nights,” explained Wanda Boe, special projects coordinator at Si View.

At the event, a panel of judges will listen to the performers and select the top three; audience ballots will decided the winner.

The event is free and refreshments will be provided at intermission.

Songs must be appropriate to the child’s age and be family-appropriate, Boe said. All ages are welcome to attend.

Si View Community Center is located at 400 S.E. Orchard Drive, North Bend.

For more information, call (425) 831-1900 or visit www.siviewpark.org.