Melissa Mills Wins Danvers Idol [VIDEO]

Peabody native Melissa Mills competed in and won on June 30 at The songstress opened with her version of Nat King Cole's, "When I Fall In Love," but it was her Alisha Keyes song, "If I Aint Got You," that sealed the deal.  

Returning judge Lauren Drapek remarked, "...it was a really great performance," while newcomer this year, judge Kenny Lewis, pointed out, "You were conscious of everybody in the room. You gave us a performance rather than just singing us a song-very good."  

Veteran judge Tim O'Donnell joked that he was under pressure to say something different, before stating, "You pick songs that you believe in, in some capacity, and that makes all the difference."

Returning judge of the past four years, Lauren Drapek, has a Bachelor's Degree in Music from New York University, and a Master's from Harvard, and is currently a music teacher. Also returning for his fourth year was Tim O'Donnell, who also has an extensive musical background, attaining his degree from Adelphi University, and currently is affiliated with the Northshore Music Theater. Newcomer Kenny Lewis is a producer, having worked with the '80s band Stryper, and owns a recording studio, Mixed Emotions, in Middleton.

With fifteen contestants competing for the honor, talent abounded in the multi-purpose room at Holten Richmond Middle School during the preliminary auditions. When the show began at 6:30 there were nine contestants vying to get into the top three final spots, chosen by the audience via secret ballots.

The nine contestants were: Georgiana Tiberio, Melissa Mills, Jill Sabina, Allie DeFelice, Gary Santorella, Shannon Silvia, Philip Pereira, Kendall Mantey and Taryn Pydynkowski.

With a tie, four made it through to compete in the final. Those contestants were: Jill Sabina, Shannon Silvia, Taryn Pydynkowski, and Melissa Mills. All were awarded recording time in judge Kenny Lewis's studio Mixed Emotions.

The winner, Melissa Mills, was chosen by the judges, met with rousing applause from the crowd. As the Danvers Idol 2011 Winner, Mills will receive several prizes, including special VIP seating at the fireworks for four friends and family, and an opportunity to sing on stage at the fireworks event.

There was also a special guest appearance by 2010 Danvers Idol Winner Amy Moquin. Moquin delighted the audience with an impromptu duet with emcee Gardner Trask, performing a memorable rendition of, "Unforgettable." Moquin closed with a song dedicated to her seven year old daughter, who joined her onstage for Martina McBrides, "In My Daughter's Eyes."

Download the movie