It’s just weeks until a new KC SuperStar will be chosen for 2021, and the 10 finalists are a diverse, talented bunch from across the Kansas City metro region.
KC SuperStar is in its 12th year of recognizing the best talent in the region. It is produced by The J - Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City and is the organization’s major fundraiser. The top winner receives a $10,000 scholarship.
These 10 local singers will perform both individually and as a group during the finals event at 7 p.m. Aug. 22, at Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College. Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, this year’s KC SuperStar Finals is a hybrid event with limited in-person seating.
Others will be able to attend via a live-streaming option. To vote for the winners, you must be a donor. Information is available at bit.ly/KCSuperStarDonate.
KC SuperStar 2011 winner Michaelah Burns Weaver and her husband, Kaleb, are serving as co-music director of the show and are working closely with finalists. Weaver will also perform at the finals along with past KC SuperStar finalists Emma Mathieson (2019, 2020), Anthony Fortino (2010) and Byron Hyde (2015).
Judges for this year’s finals are all music professionals, including Richard McCroskey, longtime band director of KC SuperStar, Millie Edwards and Lauren Frazier. The judges will view the finals in person and make their recommendations for the top four finalists.
Hundreds of high school singers compete annually for the title of KC SuperStar. In addition to the top prize of the Edward and Ellen Rose $10,000 scholarship, other finalists will be awarded scholarships for second place, $5,000; third place, $2,500; and fourth place, $1,000. All other finalists each receive $500 scholarships. Stifel is the presenting sponsor of KC SuperStar for the sixth year.
About the finalists:
- Claire Anderson is a graduate of Blue Valley North High School. She plans to attend Missouri State University pursuing a BFA in musical theatre in the fall. She participates in musical theatre all around the Kansas City area.
- Abby Augustine will be a senior at Blue Valley Southwest High School. Singing since she was little, she began singing with her church’s youth group about two years ago.
- Darcie Hingula is a graduate of St. Teresa’s Academy and is heading off to attend the New Studio on Broadway at Tisch School of the Arts at NYU majoring in musical theater. She has been performing since she was little and helps lead worship at her church since middle school.
- Bryson Kendall, a graduate of Desoto High School, will major in music education at MidAmerica Nazarene University. A singer-songwriter, Bryson participated in the Allegro Children’s Choirs and won the award of merit twice at the National Fine Arts festival for male vocal solo, and placed in top three nationally in songwriting and top 20 in musical theater.
- Vaysia Knust recently graduated from Blue Springs South High school and will be attending the University of Missouri’s school of music in the fall to study vocal performance and music education. She has been performing since the age of 5 through musical theatre productions and at charity events.
- Janelle Moreno, a graduate of Kansas City Academy, has been singing since she was young. Recently she won a merit award at Southern Missouri District Fine Arts in the English female solo category.
- Reyna Myvett will be a senior this year at Liberty High School. From a family of musicians, she currently sings in multiple choirs at school and church as well as being involved in theatre productions.
- Emma-Kate Salin is a junior at Blue Valley Southwest High school. She has been singing in choirs throughout her school career, along with theatre productions and singing the national anthem at school and outside functions.
- Kloe Wagner graduated from Olathe North and will attend the UMKC Conservatory of Music to study vocal performance. She has been singing since childhood and has performed in numerous schools, church, and community theater productions as well as choral groups.
- Elaine Watson graduated from Lee’s Summit North High School and will attend Wichita State University, majoring in music education and musical theatre. Singing since childhood, she also loves to dance.
