By Staff
y KEVIN SCOTT CUTLERLifestyles &Features Editor
Amanda Rose, a student at Beaufort County Community College, was crowned the new Beaufort County Idol on Saturday during the grand finale of this year’s singing competition at the historic Turnage Theater in Washington.
Second place in the event went to Sarah Hardison of Jamesville; third place was awarded to Lee Hudson of Chocowinity. Nineteen vocalists took part in the second-annual Idol competition.
Rose, who finished second in last year’s event, is the 19-year-old daughter of David Rose and Christine Runfola of Washington. A 2008 graduate of Washington High School, she is enrolled in the college-transfer program at BCCC. She performed the country music hit “Jesus Take the Wheel” in Saturday’s competition.
“I felt God leading me to sing that song,” said Rose, who attends Bath Church of God. “I wanted Him to use me to touch someone’s life, and I think He did.”
Rose said she wasn’t expecting master of ceremonies Lee Drake to announce her as the winner.
“I’m very surprised,” she said. “There was a lot of awesome talent. This is definitely an honor for me.”
Music has long been a part of Rose’s life.
“I’ve been singing since I could talk,” she said with a laugh. “I grew up singing in church, and I’ve sung in the North Carolina Music Network Scholarship Competition in Tarboro and the Music Academy competition in Greenville.”
Rose was also the talent winner and a finalist two years in the local Miss Independence Pageant, held during Belhaven’s July 4 festivities. She is a college ambassador at BCCC, where she tutors fellow students in English and psychiatry. She also is an intern at First South Bank.
For winning the Beaufort County Idol title, Rose receives $500 in Washington Dollars, to be spent at participating businesses in downtown Washington. She also will be the opening act for Saturday’s Turnage concert featuring hometown singer Tim Waters, an up-and-coming performer in Nashville.
Tickets to the Waters/Rose concert are available at the Turnage box office and are priced at $12 per person for orchestra and mezzanine seating and $7 per person for balcony seating. Tickets will be $15 each at the door; call 252-975-1191 for more information.
Hardison, 20, won a place in the Idol finals after being named a winner in the June round of auditions, held as part of Music in the Streets. A student at East Carolina University, she performed “Broken Wing” during the final competition and received $300 in Washington Dollars.
Hudson, 37, performed “Turn the Page” to win third place and $200 in Washington Dollars. An accomplished singer, songwriter and musician, Hudson is front man for the local band Str8 Shooter.
Saturday’s competition, coordinated and directed by Vail Stewart Rumley, featured a wide variety of musical performances including country, gospel, rock, pop and semi-classical. Each of the competitors made it to the Turnage stage after being chosen by the judges in qualifying rounds held April through October.
The other contestants and the songs they performed were: Destiny Tyson, “Stay”; McKenna Cox, “Before He Cheats”; Jessica Smith, “Leave the Pieces”; Kim Allen, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”; Renee Stalls, “You Know I’m No Good”; Molly Hardison, “God’s Will”; Tommy Ruffin, “Do I”; Elizabeth Williams, “Music of the Night”; Joseph Conner, “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine”; Mackenzie Roberts, “Summertime”; Jonah Taylor, “Jesus Loves Me”; Zack Kunclrs, “Crazy”; Jordan Futrell, “Mr. Cheater”; Teresa Prichard, “Just As I Am”; Travis Pierce, “Let Go and Let God”; and Tongia Holley, “Summertime.”
Judges for Saturday’s competition were Chynna Bonner, Nannette Garrett and Joe Sizemore. Proceeds from the event will be used for memorials planned to honor of the late Gary Tomasulo, president of the Historic Downtown Washington Merchants Association and supporter of Beaufort County Idol.