Island singer among best

Grand Island Dispatch, August 7, 2009

The Western New York Best Young Singers and Honorary Singers Awards were held July 26 at St. Leo’s Faith Formation Center in Town of Niagara.

Five local residents were chosen as Best Young Singers and two were named Honorary Singers.

“Not only do they sing, but they have the charm factor. They all sing very different from each other, but when they sang a couple of songs together, they harmonized beautifully,” said Anna M. Barone, director.

Chosen as Best Young Singers were:

•Laura Secord, 27, a teacher from Grand Island, recently back in the area from South Carolina.

•Michael Pittman, 18, of Town of Niagara, a 2009 Niagara-Wheatfield graduate, who will be attending the University of Rochester this fall to study environmental science. He also will be joining an all male a capella choir called Midnight Ramblers.

•Ashley Lelievre, 19, a 2008 graduate of Niagara Falls High School, who works as a front desk agent at Seneca Niagara Hotel. She won the Wheatfield Idol competition in her category in 2003.

•Olivia Goode, 17, a 2009 graduate of Wilson High School, who will attend Niagara County Community College this fall to study music.

•Jessica Hall, 19, a Niagara Falls High School graduate, currently studying musical theater at Buffalo State College. She was the Town of Niagara Lions Idol winner in 2007.

Honorary winners were Frank Stewart and Jeff McCoy of Niagara Falls, members of the 909 Band.