CLEVELAND — The Shining Star CLE signing competition is back in 2020 for its fourth year with an all virtual format due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
The program provides scholarship money to high-school singers and benefits dementia and memory care programs at Menorah Park, a full-service senior healthcare provider with multiple independent and assisted living residences in Beachwood and The Weils of Menorah Park, a senior living campus in Chagrin Falls.
The vocal competition's finals were live-streamed and open to the public Sunday. For the fourth year in a row, the Finals Performance & Competition was hosted by 3News' own Monica Robins.
You can re-watch the competition in the player below:
The top ten contestants competed for $10,000 in a virtual performance where the public can watch and vote for who the winners. The top four winners were awarded college scholarships.
Audience members were able to vote via cell phones or online - on the placement of the top four finalists once the six professional judges determine the top four finalists.
Celebrity judges included, Jim Brickman, Rashad V. Chambers, Telly Leung, Trisha O’Brien, Gina Vernaci and Carl Topilow.
The top ten were selected from nearly 150 students grades 9-12 representing 73 high schools across seven counties. The students submitted online video auditions for the first round of competition and then competed via Zoom for the next two round of auditions with 25 students progressing to the semifinals. In mid-August, the Top Ten Finalists were chosen from the semifinals audition.
First place winner receives $10,000; second place winner receives $5,000; third place winner receives $2,500 and fourth place winner receives $1,000. Additionally, $2,500 will be awarded to the high school music department of the first place winner. The first place winner will also have an opportunity to perform with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at Severance Hall.
Check out the list of Top Ten Finalists and the songs they will preform below:
- Daniel Blum - Mayfield High School junior
- The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha
- Jacob Canedy - Buckeye Senior High School Senior
- If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys
- Livy Douglas - Medina High School Freshman
- The Mad Hatter from Wonderland the Musical
- Elena Flauto - Hathaway Brown School Senior
- Georgia on My Mind by Ray Charles
- Kate Liang - Aurora High School Sophomore
- Dream by Bishop Briggs
- Julia Mullin - St. Vincent-St. Mary High School Senior
- She Used to be Mine from Waitress the Musical
- Ethan Peterson - Chardon High School Senior
- For Forever from Dear Evan Hansen
- Kennedy "Pete" Smith - Andrews Osborne Academy Junior
- Listen from Dreamgirls
- Hannah Tramonte - Highland High School Sophomore
- Requiem from Dear Evan Hansen
- Calista Zajac - Magnificat High School Sophomore
- Don’t Rain On My Parade from Funny Girl
For more information on Shining Star CLE and the connection between music and memories, click here. You can watch Sunday's performances on YouTube or Facebook.