More than 120 students from grades 6 through 12 represented the Bridgeport region’s talent in a vocal competition sponsored by the Barnum Festival, the summer celebration saluting 19th Century showman P.T. Barnum. Seven finalists (one from each grade) will compete this Saturday (today) 1 p.m. at the Wing Ding Parade for kids at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo.
Two finalists from Saturday’s competition–one middle school student and one high school student–will receive $500 prizes and perform for Governor Dannel Malloy at the Ringmaster’s Ball June 22nd at Seaside Park. The seven finalists will share a float with Javier Colon, inaugural winner of NBC’s The Voice, at the Great Street Parade June 30th. Colon was born in Bridgeport and raised in Stratford.
The Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport hosted The Barnum’s Got Talent Vocal Competition on June 3rd and 4th. Event organizers, led by Wing Ding Marshall Eileen Ferrigno, reached out to school music directors and principals in greater Bridgeport for talent recommendations. Over the course of two nights seven finalists were selected with monetary awards presented to participating schools.
“The talent of Bridgeport area students embodies the spirit of P.T. Barnum,” says 2013 Ringmaster John F. Stafstrom Jr. “This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the creativity of children in tribute of the revered showman whose career was based on entertaining and creating opportunities for young people. A gigantic P.T. Barnum salute to Eileen Ferrigno for her dedication and organizational skills adding new vitality to the festival.”
“This has been an extraordinary competition with broad participation from Bridgeport area schools,” says Eileen Ferrigno. “The competition was amazing and all students should be extremely proud of their participation.”
The Barnum Festival will send participating schools a check for $250 to be used for the music department in honor of the respective finalists.
The final round of Vocal Competitions will follow completion of the Wing Ding Parade, scheduled to start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo.
All seven finalists have been invited to sing from 11 a.m. to noon at Trumbull Day, June 29, at the fields behind Trumbull High School and Hillcrest Middle School, 72 Strobel Road, Trumbull.
2013 Winners of The Barnum’s Got Talent Vocal Competition
6th Grade: Maddie McDermott–Roger Ludlowe Middle School, Fairfield; Song: On My Own
7th Grade: Chasity Kennedy–St. Ann School, Bridgeport; Song: Girl On Fire
8th Grade: James Bavolacco–Flood Middle School, Stratford; Song: I Have Nothing
9th Grade: Madeline Gray–Staples High School, Westport; Song: Beautiful
10th Grade: Adrian Cordova–Bunnell High School, Stratford; Song: When I Was Your Man
11th Grade: Amanda Cepero–Regional Center For The Arts, Trumbull; Song: Time After Time
12th Grade: Elaine Rojas-Regional Center For The Arts, Trumbull; Song: In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
Here’s hoping for fair weather for the annual Barnum Festival Parade.