Columbia Idol 3

Amazing talent was on display, blowing the crowd away at Columbia High School’s annual Columbia Idol singing competition.   See which performers stole the spotlight with their renditions of today’s biggest songs!

Ten kids took the stage at East Greenbush’s Columbia High School, singing their hearts out in an effort to win this year’s crown as Columbia Idol champion.  X1 Radio was on hand, teaming with WVCR 88.3, to judge the competition.  See whom Big Rich, Monte, Darrin Scott and Sugar T  got to hear as we were able to record each student’s performance!

Columbia Idol 4

WINNER

Laura Haney – Out Here on my Own – Fame

  SECOND PLACE

Sarah Steele – White Horse – Taylor Swift

THIRD PLACE

Olivia Lang – The Lonely – Christina Perri

FINALIST 

Rose Frank – Echo – Jason Walker

  FINALIST

Kaily Turino -You’re Not Alone -Meredith Andrews

Here is a look at the tough-to-judge opening round!  As judges, we had a difficult time narrowing down the ten contestants in search of our finalists.

Soren Correia – Titanium – David Guetta and Sia

Rose Frank  – Corrine Bailey Rae – Put Your Records On

Lizzy Gambino – Mean Old Moon – Amanda Seyfried (Ted 2)

Laura Haney – Angel – Sarah Mclachlan

Sarah Jesmain – Back to December – Taylor Swift

Olivia Lang – Stay With Me – Sam Smith

Rachel Morris – Halo – Beyonce

Sarah Steele – Hold Each Other – A Great Big World

Kaily Turino – Someone Like You – Adele

Catherine Weitzel – A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

After each of the ten performers sang in the first round, we were treated to several songs from previous winners of Columbia Idol.  First up is Zoe McLean – look for big things from this kid!

Zoe McLean – Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

Olivia Lopez – Hello – Adele

Phenomenal job, Olivia – that song JUST came out.  I have trouble remembering songs I’ve been rocking out to for two decades, let alone a week.

Our final video shows what Columbia Idol is all about – FUN! Remember, these are just high school kids – the perfect age to get up on the stage and have fun in front of friends and family.  Justin Dessaureau recalled last year, Monte told him he should sing a Shinedown song.  This year, that’s exactly what Justin did with a great version of Simple Man, originally a Lynyrd Skynyrd tune.   After Simple Man, Justin stayed on stage and had given the most enjoyable performance of the night with Bowling For Soup’s 1985 (Coincidentally, a song WVCR’s Darrin Scott was chatting about earlier) – watch ALL of the contestants come out on stage and enjoy themselves during Justin’s set!

Justin Dessureau – Simple Man – Shinedown and 1985 – Bowling For Soup

Columbia Idol 2

Columbia Idol 1

Special thanks to all of the contestants, parents, friends and the entire Columbia High School for supporting Columbia Idol 2015.  Thank you to WVCR 88.3, and X1.  Very special thanks to Shellie Badger for inviting us out!