Rocky Point Students Compete for Idol Title

While this year’s American Idol competition doesn’t air until this week, Rocky Point schools have already picked their singing stars of 2011.

At the Rocky Point Idol finals held Friday night at the high school, three students were crowned champs of the stage, a middle school, high school and overall entertainment winner.

Results were based on songs performed by the 18 middle and high school students that qualified at the preliminary competition late last year.

And unlike the local competition’s national inspiration, contestants didn’t have to wait through two hours of guest performances and speculations to hear results.

Judges deliberated directly after the students finished their performances.

Julia Kutsch, who boldly tackled the tricky “My Heart Will Go On” by Celene Dion, was named middle school idol of the year. Alex Schmitt, who showed her original chops with a rendition of “Photograph” by Def Leppard, nabbed the high school idol title. And Okan Kazdal, who ran, jumped and jammed across the stage with the punk rock “The Anthem” by Good Charlotte, captured the overall entertainer crown.

Kazdal was one of only three male performers in the competition. Middle school finalist Christian Cabrera was the first to take the stage for the guys eight performances into the competition with “Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down. Dan Wood in the high school competition rounded out the boys group with a version of “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond that blended the sounds of David Bowe and David Cassidy.

After the contestants finished their performances, last year’s middle and high school winners took the stage, both with songs by Lady Gaga, a favorite in performances throughout the night.

Last year’s high school winner Brittany Bua closed the show with a piano-acoustic version of “Poker Face.”

Rocky Point Idol was put on by WBLI, which sponsors Idol competitions across Long Island every year.