Ridgewood, Wyckoff Kids Win Chance To Compete In 'Idol' Contest For $1K Prize

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — After undergoing two rounds of auditions, 12 Bergen County middle and high school students have been chosen to sing their hearts out on stage for the chance to become the "BergenPAC Idol" and win cash prizes.

The countywide contest built on the former "Englewood Idol" competition that was led by Englewood teacher Judy Aronson and then-Mayor and Bergen Performing Arts Center founder Frank Huttle III.

The finale will be held on stage on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.

“We all miss Englewood Idol and the sense of community it created," said BergenPAC Executive Director Alexander Diaz. "[It] left a lasting impact, and its absence was deeply felt. We’re thrilled to reintroduce that spirit through a new talent competition now open to all middle and high school students across Bergen County. The talent showcased in the submissions has been truly exceptional."

The music competition included two rounds of auditions. The first phase involved

video submissions, followed by a second round of live auditions on the main stage of bergenPAC.

The top prize is a $1,000 cash award, an opening act slot for a bergenPAC mainstage show, and a professional press package for the first-place winner.

The second-place winner will receive a $500 cash prize, a professional press package, and a role in the Showtime HS production of Rent. The third-place winner will be awarded a $250 cash prize and a free scholarship for one year of music, dance, or theater classes at the bergenPAC Performing Arts School.

Tickets for the performance are $20 for general admission and $10 with a student ID.

The finalists are:

Finalists

• Zabelle Avanesyan from Wyckoff, Bergen County Academies
• Taylor Bradford, Dumont, Dumont High School
• Zachary Calderon, Wyckoff, Ramapo High School
• Vidda Del Orbe, Saddle Brook, Saddle Brook High School
• Luciano Guidetti, Paramus, Paramus High School
• Jackie Jesner, Demarest, Demarest Middle School
• Lia Kurman, Tenafly, Tenafly High School
• Ellie-May Martinez, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Memorial High School
• Viana Mattson, Park Ridge High School, Park Ridge
• Maria Papson, Ramsey High School, Ramsey
• Royina Patel, Ridgewood, Bergen County Academies
• Chloe Yacoub, Rutherford, Rutherford High School

Get tickets here.