by Julian Routh

Even though Simon Cowell wasn’t in the building himself, there were fans, judges, and an extraordinary amount of talent packed into the high school’s auditorium tonight (and that’s all you need for a competition, right?). Baldwin Idol 2011 featured some of the school’s finest vocalists, all performing in order to support a charity of their choice.

The acts covered all genres; Senior Hannah Wojtowicz and sophomore Lindsay Roadarmel tackled top-20 queen Adele, sophomore Kalee George performed in front of a whole ensemble and junior Dan McTiernan played a cheerful rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Mean.”

“It was an incredible night. I love the feeling of getting up on stage and seeing others enjoy a song that I love,” sophomore Grant Weaver said, who played Old Crow Medicine’s “Wagon Wheel.”

The winner, decided by three “teacher judges,” was junior Anna Bekavac, who won last year’s Idol as well. This time, she sung an original song about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), donating her winnings to the American Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Institute.

Baldwin Idol is a precursor to the annual Talent Show, which is normally held in January or February.