SAUGUS — Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus chose Greater Boston’s next voice in a musical showcase on Sunday.
The first-place winner of the event received $1,000, and all participants received $100 gift certificates to Kowloon.
“This was a very good community-building event,” said Angel Peri, owner and founder of Boston Casting who was one of the three judges in the show. “We are at the end of COVID, and we wanted just to get people out, and to have fun.”
Two-hundred applicants participated in the contest. The entries for the show were received between Feb. 8-20.
The first-place winner, Amanda Danes, performed the song “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals. She has her own band, which performs in New Hampshire.
“My friend showed the audition email to me,” said Danes. “I feel like I am in a dream right now.”
Danes said she would spend her prize either on paying off her student loans or on her upcoming trip to Hawaii.
The second-place prize was given to Bobby Baker, originally from Dorchester, who performs music at weddings and other events.
“Even though I am second, I would do this again,” said Baker.
Kendra Wiffin got third place.
“I feel wonderful, and I have lots of friends and family who come to support me,” said Wiffin.
Singing is a full-time job for Wiffin; she has her own band Back to the 80’s, which performs around the North Shore.
High-school history teacher Carissa Scudieri, who participated in the event, gave one of the most stunning performances of the song “It’s Raining Men.”
“I love singing disco; it’s one of my favorite genres to sing,” said Scudieri.
All of the performances were great, and the judges even came to a stalemate.
The judges rated each performance on stage presence, vocal range, and song choice.
“It was tough judging today, because each and every contestant was talented,” said judge Freddy Murphy from MIX 104.1 FM.
Spectators loved the event as well.
“Everybody here are great singers; it is a great event,” said Jennifer Jackson, who went to watch the performances. “I love to see that so many people love live music.”
“The show was fantastic,” said another spectator, Rick Means.
“All the singers were really great; and the judges did a great job, and the crowd were enthusiastic,” said one of the spectators, Elizabeth Johnson, who had been coming to Kowloon since the 1980s.
It was the first time Kowloon hosted this event, said one of the organizers, but now it plans to host it again in the future.
