Tutrone hits true tone to win Freehold Idol
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

CLARE MARIE CELANO Nick Tutrone, 19, of Marlboro, who won the Freehold Idol competition at the conclusion of the summer-long event in Freehold Borough, signs autographs for several young admirers.

FREEHOLD - Forget American Idol. Freehold Idol is a much better story. After all, it's right in your own backyard.

Strutting their stuff, singing their songs, some even including dance steps and dramatic moves, the eight finalists in the borough's first Freehold Idol competition took the spotlight on stage in the Monmouth County Hall of Records parking lot on Aug. 15.

In the end, Nick Tutrone, 19, of Marlboro, won the contest that drew more than 500 people to the finals, according to Jayne Carr, executive director of the Freehold Center Partnership (FCP). The partnership orchestrated the Freehold Idol competition in conjunction with its summer concert series.

Tutrone, a student at The College of New Jersey, Ewing, is studying business and accounting in between singing engagements.

Young, handsome and possessing stage savvy, Tutrone performed Frank Sinatra's "The Way You Look Tonight" and Bobby Darin's "Beyond the Sea." In the style of Harry Connick Jr., and Sinatra before him, the young man moved and sang with what the judges of the competition called "charisma and style."

His voice, mellow and smooth, seemed an effortless play of words and music blending together, reaching the large crowd that gathered to watch the performances and then, later, to vote for their favorite contestant.

According to Carr, the partnership launched a statewide talent search with the goal of showcasing the best vocalists in New Jersey. Auditions were held at the East Main Street gazebo on eight consecutive Wednesday evenings starting in June. High school graduates between the ages of 18 and 27 were eligible to audition.

Tutrone, who was crowned the winner of the first Freehold Idol competition, received a cash prize of $500, a cruise for four people and three hours of studio time at the Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts, Marlboro.

Shana Zaccaro, 19, of Manalapan, was the runner-up and received $250 cash for her upbeat Broadway-style performance of Linda Eder's "Big Time" and Barbra Streisand's "Don't Rain on My Parade."

Zaccaro, who is a student at the Boston Conservatory of Music, plans to make singing her career and appearing on Broadway is her goal.

The third-place prize, $100, was awarded to Erica Merrell, 27, of Raritan, who the judges said was a "star." She belted out "Blackhorse and a Cherry Tree" in a way that would have made singer K.T. Tunstall proud. She also gave a moving performance of Kim Sozzi's "Alone."

The Freehold Idol contestants were judged on their pitch, range, delivery, vocal quality, style, tonality, articulation, individuality, overall presentation and the "Idol Factor."

The other finalists were:

• Lauren Belford, 21, of Fanwood. Dressed in denim and leather, she sang Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman" and Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" as good as any country girl could. Belford called herself a "country girl who lives in the city."

Comments about Belford ranged from "you got it going on, girl," to "an excellent performance."

• Crystal DeJesus, 21, of Marlboro, a cosmetologist, gave a moving performance of Christina Aguilera's "Hurt" and "Call Me When You're Sober" by Evanescence, which captured the audience and judges. One judge said there was a "very big voice inside a very tiny girl."

• Gabrielle Zollner, 18, of Howell, a student at Howell High School, sang Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" and "My Immortal" by Evanescence. One judge called her performance "amazing."

• Joe Faronea, 21, of Barnegat, gave powerful renditions of The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Bright Lights" by Matchbox 20. The judges told Faronea that he "engaged the audience" and that he had a "pop star quality."

• Tiffanie Cohn, of Marlboro, sang "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys and Etta James' famed "At Last," with grace, style and plenty of emotion.

The judges of Freehold Idol were Mick Walsh, a vocal coach in Freehold; Dona Topinka, of the Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts, Marlboro; and Joe Orlando, the owner of the Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts, Marlboro; and Julie Trauben.

Carr said the Freehold Idol event "built momentum every single week" and is definitely on the roster for next year's summer activities. She said she would like to see it as an annual event.