Future stars shine in Nassau singing competition

The winners of the 2010 Nassau Youth Singing Contest were announced at the Grand Finale, held this weekend at the Cultural Arts Theatre in Hempstead.

The first two rounds of the competition were held in the Nassau University Medical Center’s auditorium in East Meadow. 

Co-sponsored by Healthfirst and The NuHealth System, the singing contest began in September with over 300 registered participants from kindergarten age through 12th grade who live in Nassau County. Contestants competed in one of three age groups: Ages 5-9, 10-13 or 14-18 to win various prizes.

At the Grand Finale on Oct. 23, three contestants from each age group were selected for first, second and third place from the 25 finalists. East Meadow High School freshman Morrol Almedilla Cajoles finished in third place in the high school division. 

Competitors were divided up in three age brackets, ranging from ages five through 18. The chart below lists the top three ranking finishers in each division, and the songs that they performed.  

Ages five to nine

- Melanie Galeano, “I Believe I Can Fly”

- Charlee Lopez, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

- Tochi Ukegbu, “He is Exalted”

Ages 10 to 13

- Maurice Johnson, “God is Able”

- Daelynn Jorif, “Colors of the Wind”

- Jaylyn Forbes, “Never Would Have Made It”

Ages 14 to 18

- Crystalyn Wynter, “In This”

- Joshua Torres, “Playing the Guitar”

- Morrol Almedilla Cajoles, “The Greatest Love”