By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
When Wilmot Union High School sophomore Becca Brewer first started working on the song “Someone Like You” with her vocal teacher, something inside just clicked.
“I kind of just fell in love with it,” said Brewer Saturday, after riding the song to the $1,000 top prize at Riverport Chorus’s annual DivaQuest competition at Waterford Union High School.
Brewer was one of four returning finalists from last year’s top 10, and the only one from last year to place in the top five.
Her selection from the musical “Jekyll and Hyde” wowed the four judges – who made up 80 percent of the final score – as well as the audience, whose vote compromised the other 20 percent.
Brewer returned to the competition after placing fifth last year singing Barbra Streisand’s iconic song “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”
This year’s choice came easily to her.
“I like the ballads a lot,” said Brewer. “They’re a lot of fun to do.”
She had hoped for a top-three finish.
“I was definitely hoping for top three, but basically I was looking to improve,” Brewer said. “I can’t even put it into words. I’m so blessed.”
The field behind her, however, was deep and full of variety. While Brewer wasn’t the only one of the 10 finalists to choose a Broadway song, the other choices ranged from Duffy to Sara Barillas to the title song from “The Sound of Music.”
Of the 10 finalists, five were named as places six through 10 (though not in order) before the top five were announced. Those included Wilmot Union High School’s Adia Fuller, Ashley Muller of Carmel (Ill.) Catholic High School, Jamie Kunath of Kenosha Bradford, Shoreland Lutheran student and Wilmot native Marissa Lake, and Burlington High School senior Julia Barrios.
The final five, though, had a great range of experience. Westosha Central High School senior Jackie McClain, after competing two previous times, made the top five and finished fourth with the song “Hold On” from “The Secret Garden.”
But after Abby Shreve of Shoreland Lutheran took fifth and Savana Schraeder of Waterford Union High School third, that left Shoreland Lutheran junior Samantha Pinchard and Brewer vying for the top prize.
“I was just really, really happy to sing in front of people and showcase my talent,” said Pinchard, who added that she was thrilled to get as far as she did and that she would be back next year.
“I was so surprised,” she added. “I get to come back next year and do this all again next year. It was just so much fun.”
Scholarships of $100 were given to fourth and fifth place, while Schraeder earned a $250 scholarship and Pinchard $500.
In addition, McClain and Barrios were honored with $100 scholarships for their dedication to the program. While McClain had competed three years, Barrios had competed all four years of high school.
Runzheimer International and Thrivent, along with Riverport Chorus, sponsored the event.
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