Croon your way to the Oak Room

Watch out, “American Idol.” Here comes what could be called “Great American Songbook Idol.”

The Algonquin Hotel Oak Room, a center of New York’s cabaret scene, is sponsoring a Young Artist Competition for under-30 singers who enjoy singing the music of older generations. The top prize is a two-week engagement at the Oak Room in early 2006.

Entrants must submit a short bio, an 8-by-10-inch photo and a recording of at least six songs accompanied by no more than three instruments.

Twelve finalists will perform 20-minute gigs in the Oak Room in October and will be briefly interviewed before a panel of judges.

Anthony Melchiorri, the hotel’s general manager, said there are no plans to televise the contest, though it could “depend on how much interest we get.” He denied that “American Idol” was an inspiration.

Such singers as Harry Connick Jr., Steve Ross, Michael Feinstein, Diana Krall and Andrea Marcovicci were performing at the Oak Room long before “American Idol,” Melchiorri said. Now “we’re looking for a younger generation, to get them showcased.”

-- Don Shirley