Ten final contestants belted out their best songs during the Carroll’s Idol 2008 Grand Finale at Grace Hall in Westminster on April 25, and Cara Wolf, a 19-year-old musical theater major at Carroll Community College, captured first place.
Wolf, who said her “greatest inspiration is an audience who is enjoying my performance,” sang “Listen,” from the Dreamgirls soundtrack. The judges gave her rave reviews.
As Carroll’s Idol, Wolf will appear at several public events throughout the county. She received a trophy forged by Uniontown artist Nathan Vincent, two nights stay at Gaylord’s Opryland Hotel, tickets and transportation for two to New York to see “Grease”, an engraved commemorative charm, a $500 photo session portfolio, recording studio time, time with an acting coach, flowers, and hairstyling before each promotional tour event.
Alyson Marks, an 18-year-old resident of New Windsor, won two coveted awards: the People’s Choice award (determined by audience votes) and the Carroll Icon award (determined by the contestant’s votes).
The evening, complete with a panel of judges, and balloons and flowers cascading from the ceiling, was modeled after TV’s “American Idol.” The Westminster High School Jazz Ensemble and the Spotlight Dance Team entertained the audience of about 500.
Christopher Nusbaum, a fourth grader at Runnymeade Elementary School in Taneytown, sang a rendition of the National Anthem that drew deafening applause. WBAL-TV reporter and Carroll County resident Jennifer Franciotti hosted the competition.
“There is a lot of talent to tap into in Carroll County,” said Linda Wheat, a former voice student at Peabody Conservatory of Music who judged the competition.
The April grand finale marked the end of a challenging journey for the contestants. Scrutinized by a panel of judges in such categories as tonal quality, breath support, stage presence, pitch and potential, they moved up with 10 other singers from a field of 38 in February.
“The contestants were all different ages but they merged well together, which was a pleasant surprise,” said Jean Burgess, Carroll’s Idol director. “Each contestant had different goals. The younger ones, with stars in their eyes, found it an encouraging lift. The older contestants found it fun and exciting too, as well as a community event.”
“We were really like a family during the competition,” said Brittney Decker, a 21-year-old semifinalist from Carroll Community College “Even if I didn’t make it, it was fine; everyone was so encouraging.”
One lone male climbed to the final competition: Brenton Skolaski, a 19-year-old Century High School graduate, who sang “You’ll Never Be Alone”, by Louis Biancaniell and Samuel Waters.
In addition to Skolaski, Marks and Wolf, other Top Ten Carroll’s Idol finalists included: Julia Banks, Stacey Zerner, Natalie Warther, Madeline Makowski, Sunshine Safely, Jaime Baile and Kimm Mulh.
Judges throughout the competition were Paul Zimmerman, George Barnhart, Maggie Langdon, Monte Leister, Clay Parrish, Carla Poole, Henry Reiff, Susan Thornton, Linda Wheat and Wayne Wrightson. Carroll’s Idol was choreographed by Allison Luca.
The competition, which was the brainchild of Eileen Gist of Stewart N. Dutterer Flower Shop, Inc, garnered $7,000 for the Community Foundation of Carroll County: www.carrollcommunityfoundation.org.
