The 2016 edition of “BMS Idol” played out this morning with two eighth grade students claim top honors.

 

Singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” with her own guitar accompaniment was Emma Perine and playing piano and singing the ballad “Done” – which she penned herself – was Emily Aman.

 

Both girls brought down the house with their performances, which judges deemed of equal quality.

 

Also among the top four contestants were Kamden Delaney who wowed the crowd with his rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and Braden Zannino who played the cello, dressed in period clothing, complete with faux powdered wig.

 

Fourteen Bridgeport Middle School students competed Thursday morning for the coveted honor. Those finalists were selected during closed, preliminary competition. Each finalist performed before the student body and panel of three judges with experience in music and entertainment.

 

Contestants were judged on visual, talent and wow factor, said Jason Young, founder of Vintage Theatre Company, who served on the panel.

 

“We also took into account people who did more than one thing – like play an instrument and sing – as well as audience reaction,” he said.

 

Also performing were seventh grader Ashley Hart who sang Demi Lovato’s “Warrior,” seventh grader Ava Wagner, who played piano and sang “Stay” by Rihana, seventh grader Kailea Golf, who sang Adele’s “Someone Like You,” a trio of seventh graders Emma Romano, Alex Chumley and Madison Chumley who sang “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons, seventh grader Corrine Yurkovich, who sang Bruno Mars’ “Count on Me,” sixth grader Ty Gandy, who played piano and sang “Mary Did You Know,” eighth grader Khyler Leisure, who sang “The House of the Rising Sun,” Cindy Sickles and Danae Terry, both seventh graders, who sang “This is Gospel” by Panic at the Disco and Catherine Gray, an eighth grader who sang Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love.”Also scheduled to perform as a finalist, but was unable to attend because of illness, was Talia Beto who was going to sing "My Church." 

 

Emceeing the show were eighth graders Miranda Kress and Sophia Duarte. Organizing the show was BMS Band/Show Choir Director Eric Stoneking.

 

Today was the 14^th Annual BMS Idol competition, which according to most students, is one of their favorite events and memories of BMS, said Principal Carole Crawford. She began the talent show back in 2002 to showcase the talent of her students and give them performance experience. Each year, there is never a lack of talent or contestants.

 

This year, close to 40 entered the competition, she said.

 

Crawford was very pleased with today’s show and proud of her students.

 

“I think the talent, like every year, was exciting and amazing,” she said. “If I were a judge, I would have found it very hard to pick.”

 

Coming back for an encore performance was Jordan Rae, a Bridgeport High School freshman, who won last year’s BMS Idol trophy. She sang Demi Lovato’s “Confident” and “Broadway, Here I Come.”

 

In addition to watching performances, Crawford said she loves watching the students watch the entertainers, including the former idols, who after a year of high school, always exude confidence, Crawford said.

 

It is hoped that next year, in addition to the 15^th annual competition, a reunion show will be featured, featuring all past winners and finalists.

 

“My hope is to do that earlier in the spring to get the kids excited,” Crawford said. 

 

Many of today's contestants have lofty goals with respect to music and performance. Included is Braden Zannino, who strives to attend Juliard and become a cello professor. Khyler Leisure hopes to someday perform on Broadway. 

 

In the video below, Emma Perine leads her fellow BMS Idol winner Emily Aman, fellow contestants and the student body in "Country Roads." 

 

See photos of the 14th annual contest HERE.