Sarah Purser is the winner of Florida Opera Theatre’s 2011 Orlando Idol Voice Competition. Purser, 28, is currently a candidate for her Master’s Degree in Music, Vocal Performance and Conducting at UCF. She also is a songwriter and plays guitar in venues around Orlando.
Jose Fajardo, President and CEO for WMFE-TV and 90.7 WMFE-FM, was the engaging Master of Ceremonies. Judges included Rudi Cleare, Managing Director of the Negro Spiritual Scholarship Foundation, Susan Neves, international soprano, and Michael Andrew, vocalist and band leader of Swingerhead.
Fourteen contestants were selected from those who auditioned during the month of January for the title of Orlando Idol. Sarah was awarded $1000 as the Orlando Idol. She plans to use the money toward the release of her first album.
Rudi Cleare summed up the evening, “This was an important new experience of Orlando to showcase great local talent, and I was glad to see an eclectic range of voices and styles. The contestants should judge the event not by winning but if they gained from the experience. “
Florida Opera Theatre is partnered with the UCF Opera program and a consistent supporter of student efforts.
You can listen to Sarah and the other finalists on the Orlando Idol website.