Saturday, January 22, 2011
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Neighbors | Submitted .In Disney's American Idol Experience, Best sang her heart out and advanced to the final round at the attraction. Although she was cut in the final round, she says, "It was still the greatest experience of my life."
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After advancing a few rounds in the American Idol Experience, Best was given lesson with a voice coach and a touch up to her make-up so that she was stage ready. In between rounds, Best showed off her voting ticket and her audition number on her shirt.
By SARAH FOOR
Poland Middle School eighth-grader Brittany Best is a familiar voice around Poland and the Valley. The singer and performer has wowed crowds at Poland soccer games, First Night Canfield, and a growing list of local plays and productions. But our hometown girl’s talent is starting to gain some national attention as well.
As a singer with Liz Rubino Studios, Best attended the Walt Disney World Performing Arts Days in Orlando, Fla., in December.
“After one of our workshop days,” Best explained, “my mom woke me up at a crazy early hour and I tried out for Disney’s American Idol Experience.”
The attraction offers a gold ticket to an American Idol audition if the performer wins a series of auditions.
“I made it to the final five after singing my heart out in four rounds. I wasn’t bothered by not winning though, because the experience was amazing and the judges only had positive things to say about my singing.”
Since returning from Orlando, Best has appeared in a production of “It’s a Wonderful Night” and performed the national anthem at a Youngstown Phantoms game. The always busy Best already has 2011 booked with performances.
“I just want to go further with my passion and get more work singing. I have competitions coming up, school choir concerts and a dinner theater performance with my studio this spring.”
Best said the support she gets from Poland is helping her move forward with her journey, and she is proud when she finds familiar faces and close friends at her performances.
Although she’s known she’s wanted to sing seriously since fourth grade, Best still has time to figure out if her gifted pipes will take her to college or beyond.
“I can definitely hear Broadway and New York calling my name,” she said.