Bridgeport Middle School held its annual school-wide talent search Tuesday. After preliminary rounds held in front of faculty members and student judges, the field of contestants was narrowed to 12 who performed for the student body and a panel of judges.

 

Named "BMS Idol" was Emma Davisson, a BMS seventh grader who performed Adele’s “Turning Tables. Sisters Ashley and Ellie Hart received second and third place respectively. An eighth grader, Ashley sang “Bound to You” by Christina Aguilera. Younger sister Ellie, a sixth grader, chose Lady Gaga’s “Million Reasons” as her selection.

 

Faculty member Ashley Edgell, who helped with this year’s BMS Idol  said the bar was set high this year and that the event was especially competitive. Going into finals, Ellie Hart said she knew that was the case.

 

“I knew Emma (Davisson) was a good singer. We go to the same studio and study under Pam Krall,” she said. “And, of course, I knew my sister was good too, as well as a lot of the other singers.”

 

Ellie said she was first inspired to be part of BMS Idol two years ago – when her sister Ashley competed as a sixth grader. As a sixth grader this year, she said she did not expect to place, but said while at the mic, she was feeling pretty good about her performance.

 

“I performed fifth, so I was in the middle. I was nervous - on a scale of one to 10, I was like a six, but it was really fun going up there,” she said. “I always love singing and the kids and teachers were so supportive.”

 

In addition to Pam Krall’s Studio, Ellie has sung with the Chanticleer Children’s Choir and school choir. She started singing in the second grade. She is inspired by singers including Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift.

 

“I really like Taylor a lot and sing a lot of her songs,” she said. “She’s in my tone and range.”

 

Ashley Hart, who plays soccer, has also been singing for four years and, like her sister, loves the stage. She continues to be motivated by vocalists including Aguilera.

 

“I like her music and her songs. They are usually challenging and I kind of like attempting to do harder songs,” she said. “So that was my motive.”

 

Both girls love it that BMS hosts an annual talent show and were thrilled to place in this year’s event.

 

Returning for an encore performance was Emily Aman, who shared the title of 2016 BMS Idol with Emma Perine. Fifteen years old and an upcoming sophomore at Bridgeport High School, Aman played and sang "Live Right Now," a piece which she penned herself. See video below.