NYS Music 202​0

Tag: julia gargano

  • Julia Gargano Returns to Saint Rose to Record

    Even though schools have been closed since March 16, the College of Saint Rose in Albany has given former season 18 American Idol contestant Julia Gargano and a small group of former classmates special permission to use the Hearst Center for Communications and Interactive Media, the Times Union recently reported. 

    From Staten Island, Gargano was a senior in the music-industry program at Saint Rose when the opportunity presented itself to travel to Brooklyn and perform in front of Idol producers. She continued on to impress all three judges, singing her way onto the show. Each week her performances were top notch until an unprecedented coronavirus pandemic caused the show to halt and send contestants home. 

    Idol production resumed from each of the contestants’ homes where Gargano sang her way into the top seven for the finale. Even though the singer-songwriter did not win she feels that Idol has impacted her career in ways that she did not imagine. Gratitude for how recent experiences have impacted her life has been Gargano’s outlook since the ending of the show. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CATwNDeBGJs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Gargano told the Times Union “‘Idol’ totally lit this drive inside me, I’m in work-work-work mode. The show will really help me be my own artist, my own singer-songwriter.”

    The show might be over but it is not the end of the road for Gargano’s music journey. Now a Saint Rose graduate, Gargano and four of her previous classmates are working on three singles that are set to be released on streaming services later in the year. For now check out Gargano’s original song ‘Growing Pains. 

  • Julia Gargano’s Road Ends on American Idol

    As “American Idol” on ABC came to an end on Sunday, May 17, many were disappointed to find out that Julia Gargano would not be advancing to the top five. 

    Gargano, a 22-year-old graduate of the College of Saint Rose in Albany, gave her all in a top seven socially distant group performance of The Beatles’ “Come Together” but it was not enough for her to advance onto the final five. 

    Hailing from Staten Island, Gargano came a long way from her first audition where she performed an original song called ‘Growing Pains’, stunning the judges from the very beginning. She continued to wow spectacular performances such as with Pink’s “Glitter in the Air” and Adele’s “Sweetest Devotion.”

    Despite having not made it on to the top five, Gargano still felt grateful for the experience Idol has given her. “I love you guys. Thank you so much,” she said, while rocking a silver dress at home for the finale.

    Much of the 18th season of “American Idol” took place virtually from the residences of the singers’ homes due to social distancing protocols in place because of the coronavirus outbreak. Technical difficulties initially caused a bit of confusion as the top five were announced but the show continued on. 

    In the top five were piano teacher Jonny Webb, college student Francisco Martin, construction worker Dillon James, Nepalese singer – songwriter Dibesh Pokharel (stage name: Arthur Gunn) and Samantha Diaz (stage name: Just Sam), a 21-year-old subway singer from Harlem. 

    Each finalist performed two songs and viewers voted live for their favorites. New York still saw a victory when Ryan Seacrest announced that Just Sam was the Season 18 winner of ‘American Idol’ on ABC. 

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