Brunswick High School student in top 10 for Shining Star CLE scholarship competition

BRUNSWICK — Incoming Brunswick High School senior Sofia Krueger will soon perform against some of the top youth vocalists in Northeast Ohio as part of the Shining Star CLE scholarship competition. Shining Star CLE is a program put on by Mandel JCC. High school students who will be graduating between 2027 and 2030 who live in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit and Wayne counties can participate. Mandel JCC stated that 166 high school students auditioned for the competition this year. Students went through a video audition, and the top 25 advanced to the semifinals after another virtual audition. In the third round, the semifinalists performed live in front of a panel of judges and went through a short interview. The top 10 students and two alternates will perform live again for the final round. Krueger is one of a select group of students who advanced to the finale, and she auditioned by performing "Forget Her" by Jeff Buckley. She went into the competition because her choir teacher encouraged her to try out. "I love singing, and I've been singing since I was like 3 years old," she said. "I do School of Rock, and I made it into the All Stars program. I'm in my house band, and I now have my own music out. It's just amazing and fun." The finals will take place at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at Playhouse Square. Judges will pick the top four students, who will sing one last time. Then, the audience and the judges will pick the order of the winners. The awards are as follows: First place wins a $10,000 college scholarship, an invitation to perform with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and a free one-year membership to The J. Second place receives a $5,000 college scholarship. Third place receives a $2,500 college scholarship. Fourth place receives a $1,000 college scholarship. The fan favorite receives a $500 college scholarship. The bonus award gives $2,500 to the high school music department of the person who came in first place. Krueger is a contemporary singer who wants to go to college for vocal performance. "Hopefully, I win big," she said. "It will also boost my career as an artist." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.