12 Local Finalists Revealed for BERGENPAC IDOL
Local talents compete in BERGENPAC IDOL, highlighting Bergen County's vibrant arts scene
Bergen Performing Arts Center has announced the BergenPAC Idol, a music competition open to middle and high school students in Bergen County. The finalists have been selected, and now it's time for the big event, where the singers will compete on Thursday, February 26, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available for $20.00 for general admission and $10.00 with a student ID.
bergenPAC is bringing the spotlight back to Bergen County with this exciting new singing competition for young talent! Get tickets now for BergenPAC Idol, where middle and high school students from surrounding Bergen County communities will compete for the chance to become the very first BergenPAC Idol—live on the iconic stage!
This year, the competition was open to middle and high school students from Bergen County. There were two rounds of auditions: the first phase involved video submissions, while the second round featured live auditions on the main stage of bergenPAC.
Alexander Diaz, Executive Director, shared, “We all miss Englewood Idol and the sense of community it created. That program which was an effort led by former Englewood Public School teacher Judy Aronson and supported wholeheartedly by then-Mayor and bergenPAC founder Frank Huttle, III, left a lasting impact, and its absence was deeply felt. We're thrilled to reintroduce that spirit through a new talent competition now open to all middle and high school students across Bergen County. The talent showcased in the submissions has been truly exceptional, and we can't wait to celebrate these young performers at the finale.
Below are the twelve finalists chosen to perform in the final show on February 26, where a panel of entertainment executives will judge their performances.
The final contestants will compete for the following top three prizes:
● $1,000 Cash Prize + Opening Act for a bergenPAC mainstage show, + professional press package, trophy, sash and crown
● $500 cash prize, professional press package, plus automatic acceptance and a role in our Showtime HS production of Rent which takes place in the spring.
● $250 Cash Prize + Free Scholarship for one year for Music, Dance & Theater classes of your choice at the bergenPAC Performing Arts School
Finalists
1 ) Zabelle Avanesyan
Bergen County Academies
Wyckoff
2) Taylor Bradford
Dumont High School
Dumont
3) Zachary Calderon
Ramapo High School
Wyckoff
4) Vidda Del Orbe
Saddle Brook Highschool
Saddle Brook
5) Luciano Guidetti
Paramus H.S.
Paramus
6) Jackie Jesner
Demarest Middle School
Demarest
7) Lia Kurman
Tenafly H.S.
Tenafly
8) Ellie-May Martinez
Ridgefield Memorial High School
Ridgefield, New Jersey
9) Viana Mattson
Park Ridge High School
Park Ridge
10) Maria Papson
Ramsey High School
Ramsey
11) Royina Patel
Bergen County Academies
Ridgewood
12) Chloe Yacoub
Rutherford High School
Rutherford
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