Winning Morgan Hill Idol was a good start for Julie Cortez.
She has two years to polish her performance before her chance to
stand next to Ryan Seacrest on a stage in front of millions of TV
viewers.
Winning Morgan Hill Idol was a good start for Julie Cortez.
She has two years to polish her performance before her chance to stand next to Ryan Seacrest on a stage in front of millions of TV viewers.
“This is good practice for the real ‘American Idol,’ ” the 14-year-old’s father Florante Cortez said Thursday night after his daughter won Morgan Hill’s second edition of the singing competition. “American Idol” requires participants to be at least 16 years old.
“We’ll call you when she makes it,” he said.
In front of about 300 people, Cortez wowed judges with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” singing a rendition made popular by American Idol star Katharine McPhee.
Florante, who always chooses Julie’s music – he’s the one with singing genes – said they searched YouTube to find the victorious Idol song. This year, music accompaniment was eliminated because last season some singers brought music and others did not creating a less-fair competition, according to last year’s Larry Gamble, Morgan Hill Idol winner.
He was a judge on the four-person panel since the first Morgan Hill Idol tryout July 1 that found the best singer each Thursday night during a 10-week timespan. Eleven finalists sang Thursday – one singer was added that night – but weren’t slammed with Simon Cowell-like pleasantries as judges kept opinions at the table and praised the bravery of all performers.
Idol hopefuls drove from as far as Watsonville and Hollister to take a shot at the crown and this year’s grand prize: a karoke machine and $100 worth of CDs.
After the judges whittled the field to three – Jesaiah Baer, 14, from Hollister, Gilroy’s Laura Presti and Julie – they each sang a snippet of a song once more to convince the judges of their talent.
Julie’s voice won them over. After the announcement by emcee Eric Wallace and an award of a yellow rose and the karoke machine, Julie was crowded by hugs.
Julie started singing at 4 in the living room before moving to the church choir and entering competitions.
Winning isn’t new to Julie. Twice she won the Youth Focus Talent Competition in San Jose and she will sing “Ave Maria” in the annual Christmas concert put on by St. Catherine’s and the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints in Morgan Hill.
Morgan Hill Idol finalists (In no particular order)
Jesaiah Baer*, 14, Hollister, “Zing with the Strings of My Heart,” Judy Garland
Leanne Ridgers, Gilroy, “At This Moment” Billy Vera
Allen Coughlin, Hollister, “Fulsom Prison Blues” Johnny Cash
Lilsy Sanchez, 13, Gilroy, “Oh, How He Loves Us” Kim Walker
Mitzi Sanchez, 10, Gilroy, “I Miss You” Miley Cyrus
Julie Cortez*, 14, Morgan Hill, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Judy Garland
Samantha Morado, 15, Morgan Hill, “More Like Her” Miranda Lambert
Laura Presti*, Gilroy, “Dreams” Fleetwood Mac
Deborah Colling, Morgan Hill, “Memory” Cats
Elizabeth Estrada, Watsonville, “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” Freddy Fender
Kyle Wright, Morgan Hill, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” Brooks & Dunn
* Made it to the final round of competition.
