Local Talent Shines in Burlingame Idol Competition

SAN MATEO, CA, June 12, 2013 (Press-News.org) This year the 21st Annual Burlingame ArtzFest will be held August 10-11 on Howard Avenue and it will highlight the vocal talent of four finalists from the Burlingame Idol competition. From Disney and Broadway tunes to contemporary pop and rock hits, those who participated in the competition sang their hearts out in hopes of becoming the next Burlingame Idol.

Cathy Foxhoven, event organizer, is thrilled with the positive response from the community. "Burlingame and the Parks and Recreational Department have been very supportive and patient during this process," said Foxhoven.

Foxhoven started the Burlingame Idol competition after witnessing the extreme amount of talent coming out of the Burlingame Centennial show held in 2008. This competition gave participants the experience of performing in front of a live audience as well as vocal training, commitment, and discipline. After a five week auditioning period and three weeks of polishing the finalists performances, the winners were crowed on May 31st.: Caitlyn Johnson, a 5th grader won the 5-10 age group; Estia Mataele won 11-14, Sidney Davis, a 10th grader won 15-18, and lastly Richard Cleveland took the adult category. The competition was judged on the criteria of the song being age appropriate for age group, vocal clarity, pitch, presentation to judges and audience, as well as connectedness.

All the winners are amazing, but Sidney Davis brought the house down with her smoky tones, rich with a vibrancy beyond her age. She performed the "One and Only" by Adele as she swooned and crooned while the judges sat spellbound. Sidney is passionate about life, her signing and her friends, especially the friends she has made playing competitive A-division fast pitch softball on the Nor Cal Blitz. Her tenacity and commitment to her team, her teachers at Rocio Studios where she takes singing lessons and her father are commendable for a young woman with so much talent.

According to Sidney, "My all time dream is to be driving down the road to one of my softball competitions with my dad and hear my song come on the radio. I don't think it could get any sweeter than that," she says with a smile. Sidney's musical inspiration comes from legendary soul and blues artist Etta James.

All four winners, plus the other nine finalists, will perform at the Burlingame ArtzFest this summer on August 10-11, 2013.

WHO: The Burlingame Chamber of Commerce
WHAT: Burlingame ArtzFest: A free weekend long event that offers a full day of live music, art, festival foods, kids entertainment, shopping and more.
WHERE: Howard Avenue in Downtown Burlingame, Located 15 minutes south of San Francisco. Take Caltrain to the Burlingame Train Station, or make use convenient public parking.
WHEN: Saturday, August 10 - Sunday, August 11, 2013 from 10am-6pm
INFO: For more info, visit http://www.burlingamechamber.org or contact Georgette Naylor at 650-344-1735.
PRESS: Contact Liz Rosinski at 650-548-6700 or via email at Lrosinski@prmagic.com
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