Arts & Entertainment

Help Choose New Jersey's Next Idol

Art Center's annual competition finals set for Saturday.

Sometimes there's just not enough days to go around, but each week we'll give you an idea of something to do to relax, spend time with family or just take some time for yourself.

Saturday night, make a date to join the fun at the Watchung Art Center's New Jersey Idol finals, where 10 performers from across the state will compete to win prizes including studio time, publicity and even a cash prize.

All of the participants are between 15 and 29 years of age, and will be judged by a panel including recording artist Lisa Coppola, Entertainment Attorney Lou Takacs, and songwriter-producer-manager Mark D. Conklin—and the audience. 

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Mendham resident Jessie Villa won last year's competition.  

This year's contest began with auditions, which yielded a field of 20 semi-finalists who performed for the judges last weekend. The top ten advanced to Saturday's finals.

Find out what's happening in Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Unfortunately, Hillsborough doesn't have a contestant in the finals, which includes: Danielle Bellomo, East Hanover;  Frederick “Freddie” Bourne, Union Beach; Joseph Gatti, Princeton; Caroline Hoynowski, Clark; Erica Kottler, Warren; Carl Martin, North Brunswick; Allison McKenzie, Freehold; Elaine Kandace Moore, West Orange; Kristin Morosoff, Tinton Falls; and Alice Tuberty-Vaughan, of Gillette.

The first-place winner will receive a $500 cash prize provided by the Watchung Arts Center; second prize is a vocal and piano recording session to be mixed and mastered by producer Seth Alexander, of S.R.A. Studios, with musical accompaniment by John Korba, an associate conductor of "RENT" on Broadway, who performs with Phoebe Snow and Hall and Oates.

Third prize is a formal publicity portrait by Nancy Ori, in Berkeley Heights.

The top ten finalists will perform at 8 p.m.—come out and support your favorite performer and participate in the audience judging. 

Tickets can be purchased at http://2013njidolsfinals.eventbrite.com/.    

The Watchung Arts Center notes the event is not associated or affiliated with Fox Tv's "American Idol," its sponsors, producers or participants.


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