Manalapan's Allie Gorenc Wows Judges of Freehold Idol

The participants in the second round of Freehold Idol stopped traffic in front of the Hall of Records Wednesday night with their singing talents. Downtown Freehold, the town's business partnership, sponsors the contest, which is held Wednesday nights and is hosted by Lisa Anderson of radio station WWZY, The Breeze.

Manalapan High School freshman Allie Gorenc wowed the judges with her rendition of "Never Neverland" and tied for first place in her age group.

Gorenc's vocal talent is already known among local patrons of Manalapan High School theater who heard her belt out a Sondheim ballad as the character Tobi in "Sweeney Todd." 

Freehold resident Nina Sophia Mojares, a student of Freehold Idol judge Brenda K. Starr, opened and closed the show with a stunning voice and professional poise far beyond her 12 years.

Then it came time for Starr, a professional singer who helped discover Mariah Carey, and her fellow judges, Freehold Borough Arts Council President Neal Girandola and Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts founder Joe Orlando to get down to business.

The competition proved fierce in the second week of Freehold Idol. George Aline, of Howell, kept it old school with a performance of Al Jolson’s “Rockabye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody” that drew in the whole crowd with Aline’s smooth voice. Brianna Kaplan, 16, of Ocean Township, soared with “Defying Gravity” from the musical Wicked.

However, the judges could only pick three winners from the lineup—actually, make that four. There was a tie in the 15 to 22 age group between Gorenc and Sofia Nicole Khorosh, of East Brunswick, who sang a rendition of “Before He Cheats.” Melissa Cecchini, of Freehold, took first place in the 10 to 14 age group for her performance of “A Thousand Miles.”  Freehold resident Margaret Dobbins won the 23 and above age group with “At Last.”

The three singers will move on to the final round, which will be held Wednesday, Aug. 17 and Wednesday, Aug. 24. The first place winner in each age group will receive $500 and recording time at the Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts; the second place winner will receive $250; and the third place winner will receive $100. Freehold Idol is sponsored by Downtown Freehold, the business partnership in Freehold Borough.