Carmen Brandy To Perform at Largo Teen Idol Tonight

Largo Teen Idol 2013, the annual talent competition that features young performers from all over the Tampa Bay area, takes place tonight at 7 p.m. at the Largo Cultural Center.

Ten finalists, including Safety Harbor's own Carmen Brandy, were chosen from an original pool of roughly forty contestants, according to event organizer Andre Jones.

As has been the case every year since the competition began in 2006, Jones expects a large crowd to turn out to cheer on the talented contestants. 

“What makes this competition great is we meet talented people every year,” Jones said Wednesday night as the finalists went through rehearsals. 

“I’m a recording artist also, so to see all these talented kids on stage every year, it gets me totally excited. I love it.”

Participants in the competition range in age from 13 – 18 years old, and they're not allowed to have any professional representation or be signed to a recording contract. 

In the past the event has been a springboard to potential fame and professional earnings, though. Jones said four previous Largo Teen Idol contestants have gone on to earn spots in televised singing competitions “American Idol” and “The Voice”. 

In fact, one of this year's finalists had to drop out because she was invited to try out for "The Voice" on the same night, and Dunedin resident Natalie Hernandez, who made it to the battle rounds on “The Voice” last fall, will be a judge for this year’s contest.

“Those shows have a lot to do with our success,” Jones said. “Those four kids have been on this platform right here.”

While some of the finalists have little experience performing in front of large crowds, Safety Harbor Middle School student Brandy is almost a seasoned vet when it comes to these things.

"I'm pretty relaxed," she said prior to rehearsals Wednesday. "I remember last year when I was in the Dunedin event, I was pretty nervous. But now that I have more experience, I'm much more relaxed."

That experience includes more than 60 performances, from Nashville to Brooksville in the last year, including last month's Strawberry Festival and the St. Patrick's Day festival at Tampa's Irish 31 last week.

"I'm just going to go out there, enjoy myself and hope I do well," she said.

Largo Teen Idol 2013 is expected to draw a large crowd – Jones said they usually average about 250 people – but tickets are still available. They cost $9.00 online or $7.00 at the Cultural Center box office. 

For more information on Largo Teen Idol 2013, visit the Largo Cultural Center webpage or call 727-587-6793.

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