First WVIHF Singer of the Year Competition to Take Place at Robinson Grand

The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival will host a “Singer of the Year” talent competition on Sunday, March 8 at The Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center in Clarksburg. The winner will receive a time slot on the main stage of the Labor Day weekend festival; an opportunity to perform a full show.

Board member Mary Francis Smith said it is a first-time event, inspired because of ongoing interest in singing at the festival.

“We have so much local talent and they often call and ask if they can perform at the festival,” Smith said “And it’s hard to choose who can and who can’t.”

The winner will be determined in a three-phase process. A panel of five professionals – one each from New York, Pittsburgh and Fairmont State University as well as two local choral directors – will provide live judging.

“The judging will be worth 50 percent, and the other 50 percent will be determined by the live audience that night and online voting,” Smith said.

The March 8 audience will vote that night, contributing 25 percent of the selection. The performances will be videotaped and showcased on social media, enabling daily online voting and/or vote purchasing, adding the remaining 25 percent.

The winner will be announced June 1.

All contestants will be invited to take part in a variety show which will take part on the festival main stage.

“They will each be able to perform a song or two, but it’s the winner who will do a 30 to 40-minute show,” Francis said.

The March 8 Singer of the Year talent competition will also feature WVIHF house band AMICI and two of this year’s American Idol contestants, Olivia Spino and Luke Columbo, of Shinnston and Parkersburg, respectively. The show starts at 7 p.m. and doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased HERE. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the festival.

“We offer good entertainment each year at no charge to the public, so the rest of the year we have to fundraise,” Smith said. “I think it’s going to be a fun evening. AMICI will be performing between contestants and will be doing some fun audience participation. We are excited.”

Editor’s Note: Pictured from top is AMICI, Olivia Spino and Luke Columbo.