Metrostar 2015 Competition Concludes Next Week

In nail-bitingly close voting Monday night, the MetroStar Talent Challenge bid farewell to two audience favorites in a hotly contested semi-final round. Let go by the jury were the contest's popular 9th grader Josephine Bianco and the veteran piano bar performer Sheree Sano.

The Final 5, who go head-to-head in the 8th annual competition's finale next Monday August 17 at 7pm, are the tightly matched Thomas Dieter, Minda Larsen, April Leonhard, Lisa Remick, and Josephine Sanges.

These are the last singers standing from an initial pool of 50. The 7-week competition, that challenges singers to raise their standards and push themselves artistically, got underway on July 6.

In an unprecedented move The Metropolitan Room is bringing back Miss Bianco, the 14-year-old wunderkind from Staten Island, to receive a Special Audience Award for her accomplishments and character in the competition.

"We are asking Josephine back to perform out-of-competition, to thank her for helping to make MetroStar 2015 the amazing contest it is," Met Room owner Bernie Furshpan observed. "We definitely want to support Josephine's very promising career. She's a keeper!"

Bianco, who will perform one more song at the show's conclusion (while final ballots are being counted), will be joined by the current MetroStar Kristoffer Lowe, whose own singing prowess goes on display in his MetroStar-produced "You're Getting to Be A Habit with Me: The Songs of Harry Warren," starting Tuesday September 22 at 7pm.

MetroStar offers a career-boosting package of prizes and professional encouragements, including a Met Room-produced primetime engagement and, a six-camera demo that chronicles the odyssey of the winner from start to finish.

This year, top director Barry Kleinbort served as MetroStar's resident mentor, offering performance-improving pointers to the last 13 singers. The contest's winner will be mentored by veteran broadcaster Bill Boggs on effective on-camera interview techniques.

Guest judges for the finals will be the Singing Experience director Linda Amiel Burns, the producer and singer Randie Levine-Miller, Huffington Post scribe Steve Schonberg, and Kristoffer Lowe.

Since it began in 2008, MetroStar has launched and redefined the careers of several standouts in cabaret and jazz. Past winners, in chronological order have included Anne Steele, Liz Lark Brown, T. Oliver Reid, Marissa Mulder, Billie Roe, Lauren Stanford and Kristoffer Lowe.

The contest's permanent judges this year are the singer and director Gretchen Reinhagen, Met Room talent booker Joseph Macchia, and Roy Sander, the chairman.

"Ramblin'" Tom Gamblin has been the contest's fun-loving host for the fifth time; MetroStar's resident music director is Tracy Stark. The contest's co-producers are Furshpan, Macchia, Gamblin, and Beck Lee.

The cover charge is $20, with a two-drink minimum. The Nightlife, MAC and Bistro Award-winning Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, has been keeping kids off the streets and adults from spending too much time watching television since 2006. For reservations call 212/206-0440 or to order online visit www.metropolitanroom.com.

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