Tonya Ellis - Sugar Land Magazine

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Emcees Michael Garfield (left)and Michele Fisher (right) withsome of the finalistsMarjorie CloningerCedela AbdullaTThe evening started out hot and stayedblazing even after the sun went down as tenof Fort Bend’s finest singers hit the stagefor the Sugar Land Superstar contest finale.Sixteen-year-old Nathaniel De Jesus turnedthe heat up a notch above the others,and was named this year’s Sugar LandSuperstar.“It feels great to represent Sugar Landat such a young age,” says the KempnerHigh School junior. “I thank God for theopportunity.”A Sugar Land TraditionFor the past four summers, a rainbowof lawn chairs has fanned out on SugarLand Town Square as thousands gatherto experience the American Idol-likecompetition. It’s the brainchild of RitaSosebee, marketing and event manager ofSugar Land Town Square, and is sponsoredby David Taylor Cadillac. Contest judgeswere Yolanda Green of CW 39, TJ Callahanof 100.3 KILT, and Craig DeSerf, generalsales manager of David Taylor Cadillac.Sugar Land’s own Michele Fisher of Mix96.5 and High Tech Texan Michael GarfieldTravis Wiselywere emcees. “Mike and I host lots ofevents, but nothing is more special thansitting down with our community, ourfamily,” Fisher says.Contestants were judged on vocal talent,stage presence, and crowd response.For the first time, crowd response wasmeasured not by audience cheers, but textmessages. “The texting tonight really wasthe differentiator,” said Garfield.The Top TenAbout 100 contestants auditioned beforethe top 10 were chosen. Who were the toppicks? Only some of the best singers in thearea!Cedela Abdulla –This first-time contestantcalls music her little hiding place. She gavea soulful performance of Mariah Carey’stune “My All” for the final.Savannah Berry –She’s the first-runnerup winner, and at 14, the youngest in thecompetition. Wearing a ruffled dress,leggings, and cowboy boots, she blew thecrowd away with her rendition of “Home”by Blake Shelton. She has participated inRenee Miuravarious opries, and was on Nashville’s “15Minutes of Fame Jr.”Marjorie Cloninger – Cloninger describesherself as a singer-songwriter, and was alsoin the top ten last summer. The new momis a fan of soulful, bluesy music.Laura De Jesus – She has no relation towinner Nathaniel De Jesus, but she shareshis love of music. The Sugar Land residentpursued her singing dream in New YorkCity for three years after college.Christen Douds –Douds dressed formaximum wattage in a gold and silverLaura De JesusTo advertise, call 281-579-7944 or email sales@sugarlandmagazine.com sugar land magazine • 35
The final round of Sugar LandSuperstar 2009 attracted a largecrowd to Sugar Land Town Square36 • sugar land magazine Visit SugarLandMagazine.com for SL jobs, events, news and more.
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Tonya Ellis - Sugar Land Magazine

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