Fifteen-year-old Kristen Murphy, of North Bellmore, recently placed first in the fifth annual “Got Talent? Long Island” competition, sponsored by the Huntington Arts Council. In doing so, she earned the right to perform alongside professional musicians at a popular festival.
Her mother, Anne, said she auditioned at Hofstra University for the contest. There, she received a “golden ticket” to move on to the finals a month later.
Kristen competed at the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center at Five Towns College against 21 other finalists. Her rendition of “Popular,” a tune from the Broadway show “Wicked,” wowed the judges, and she took home the first-place prize.