DU's singing 'SuperStar'
Brittany Katz
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Features
Last update: 4/10/08 at 2:39 AM EST
She may not have to worry about harsh comments from Simon Cowell, but Duquesne graduate student Andrea Festa did make it to the final round of a similar competition called Campus SuperStar.
In its second year, Campus SuperStar was held to benefit the Edward and Rose Berman Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh. All full-time college students were welcome to audition, except those who competed in last year's final round of the event. The competition's Web site states the contest was held in search of "the best solo singers on campus."
The semifinals were held as an open audition Sunday, Feb. 24, at the University of Pittsburgh's William Pitt Union. A panel of judges selected the finalists. The contest's final round was held Sunday, April 6, at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Eleven contestants from Point Park University, Pitt, Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University competed, and the winner was chosen by the audience's vote.
Andrea Festa was Duquesne's lone representative at the Campus SuperStar finals Sunday. Festa said she had attended last year's Campus SuperStar final competition as an audience member and was impressed by the talent at the show.
"I knew to look for the signs advertising Campus SuperStar this year," Festa said.
Festa said singing has always been a big part of her life.
"I have been singing since I was a kid," she said. "I come from a very musical family."
Festa admits this is the first time she has entered a contest of this sort.
"I have never done anything like this," she said. "I have always been very focused on school, but it just seemed like a good opportunity."
Festa did her undergraduate work at Duquesne in psychology and sociology. She is one semester away from finishing her graduate degree in community counseling.
Festa was a majorette during her time at Duquesne and even spent a year coaching the majorettes. Festa remains active in her sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau, and the counseling honors fraternity, Chi Sigma Iota.
The winner of Campus SuperStar was rewarded a $5,000 scholarship. Second and third place winners each received $1,000 scholarships.
Although Festa did not place in the top three, each contestant was rewarded $250 dollars.
"I would encourage anyone who loves to perform and sing to look for the audition signs next year because it is not an opportunity you would want to miss," she said.
In its second year, Campus SuperStar was held to benefit the Edward and Rose Berman Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh. All full-time college students were welcome to audition, except those who competed in last year's final round of the event. The competition's Web site states the contest was held in search of "the best solo singers on campus."
The semifinals were held as an open audition Sunday, Feb. 24, at the University of Pittsburgh's William Pitt Union. A panel of judges selected the finalists. The contest's final round was held Sunday, April 6, at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Eleven contestants from Point Park University, Pitt, Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University competed, and the winner was chosen by the audience's vote.
Andrea Festa was Duquesne's lone representative at the Campus SuperStar finals Sunday. Festa said she had attended last year's Campus SuperStar final competition as an audience member and was impressed by the talent at the show.
"I knew to look for the signs advertising Campus SuperStar this year," Festa said.
Festa said singing has always been a big part of her life.
"I have been singing since I was a kid," she said. "I come from a very musical family."
Festa admits this is the first time she has entered a contest of this sort.
"I have never done anything like this," she said. "I have always been very focused on school, but it just seemed like a good opportunity."
Festa did her undergraduate work at Duquesne in psychology and sociology. She is one semester away from finishing her graduate degree in community counseling.
Festa was a majorette during her time at Duquesne and even spent a year coaching the majorettes. Festa remains active in her sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau, and the counseling honors fraternity, Chi Sigma Iota.
The winner of Campus SuperStar was rewarded a $5,000 scholarship. Second and third place winners each received $1,000 scholarships.
Although Festa did not place in the top three, each contestant was rewarded $250 dollars.
"I would encourage anyone who loves to perform and sing to look for the audition signs next year because it is not an opportunity you would want to miss," she said.
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