LIVE OAK — The Suwannee River Jam is set for May 3 through 6, but on Saturday two local artists will have the chance of a lifetime — to audition for a chance to perform in Suwannee County’s most anticipated event of the year.

16-year-old Brittanie Powell, of Live Oak, and Kyle Brigham, of O’Brien, both won the chance to audition to perform in the Jam. The audition finals are Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park’s Music Hall.

Powell has been singing for as long as she can remember and said her biggest hope is to make a living off singing. She knows it won’t be easy, but singing is her real passion. Her and her mother, Jennifer McGee, travel all across Florida performing at small venues and open mic nights.

She performs mostly contemporary christian and country music, but feels comfortable singing anything, she said. Last year, Powell won first place in the Suwannee County Fair talent show, and this year she was a judge.

She will also be heading to New York City for a two week singing summer camp with French Woods after she won a $3,000 scholarship.

A Live Oak native, Powell said one of her favorite things to do is go to the Spirit of Suwannee on Thursday nights for karaoke. The crowds are generally small and a little old, but it’s great practice for performing for a live audience.

Brigham got his singing career started traveling around the country singing for a DJ friend at events. He said he would break the ice by being the first one to sing and get the atmosphere comfortable for more people to come up and sing.

When he isn’t traveling and singing, Brigham is a jack of all trades, he said. Normally, he switches between an electrician and a logger, but he thinks that if he can perform at the Jam that he might be recognized by a talent scout. At the very least, it will look good on his resume, he said.

This is his first time auditioning for the Jam, but he is no stranger to singing competitions. He won first place for entertainer of the year in the North American Country Music Association International in Tennessee and second place in an Alabama state level competition in 2015.

Brigham said what makes him stand out is his personality when he performs.

“I put my own spin and flavor on the songs,” he said. “I like to include the audience in the performance, talk to people in the crowd, that sort of thing.”

He performs mostly country music like George Strait, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and Conway Twitty.

In addition to the winners from Friday night’s Last Chance SRJ audition, Powell and Brigham will be joined by Stephen Quinn, Justin Welch, Kamron Williams, of Mayo, Cole Tomlinson, Darrell Rae, Ashton Taylor, Jamie Stokes, Hannah Emerson, Josh Edwards, duo Karley Scott Collins and Alex Sandlin, Callie Leigh Johns, Lauren Woodall, Ashley Holbrook, Jimmie Coleman, Jennifer Renee Yarbrough, Reggie Stacy and Kara Orndorff, of Jasper, in the audition finals with a chance to win their way into the Jam.