Singers woo, entertain crowds
By MELISSA KRANZLER, Staff Writer
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Diedre Collins, 24, shows her ribbon and trophy for winning first place in the I.V. Idol finals at the California Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta on Friday.
Judges give comments on singers’ performance during the I.V. Idol finals. At right, Imperial Valley Weekly reporter Chris Ferguson talks about contestant Sara Cruz’s performance as 2008 Brawley Cattle Call Queen listens.
Diedre Collins, a 24-year-old Heber resident, was named the 2009 I.V. Idol at the California Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta on Friday night.
“It feels great to win,” Collins said. “It’s a rush.”
Three contestants, Nathaniel Lizarraga, a senior at Imperial High School; Sara Cruz, a sophomore at Brawley High School; and Collins competed in the I.V. Idol Finals.
Collins competed in I.V. Idol in 2007 and went to the semi-finals, but did not advance to the final round.
“I just love music and I love to entertain,” Collins said. “That’s what makes me happy.”
Eleven contestants began the competition in the preliminary round Saturday. Seven of those were given the opportunity to compete again at the semi-finals Wednesday, and three of those were selected as finalists.
“The contestants were all very talented,” said judge Chris Ferguson from Imperial Valley Weekly. “All 11 of them could have been on the stage tonight, but unfortunately we had to cut it down to three.”
Each contestant sang two songs: one song from a previous round and one new song. Collins won the competition by singing two Gretchen Wilson songs, “Here for the Party” and “Redneck Woman.”
Judge Stacia Miller, 2008 Brawley Cattle Call Queen said that she would have liked to hear more variety in Collins’ music selection for the finals, but said her stage presence and entertainment value were great.
Although only one finalist could win, the judges felt all three contestants performed well.
“We had three very different styles in the competition,” fair special projects coordinator Holly Baker said.
Cruz entertained the crowd with two tunes from the movie “Selena,” Lizarraga wooed the crowd with a Brian McKnight tune and a song by The Fray and Collins stuck to country.
“Overall I thought the competition went very well,” Baker said. “A lot of other fairs try Idol competitions, but I think it works so well at our fair because “American Idol” is happening right now and everybody is pumped up for it.”
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