From the: THE PRINCE GEORGE’S SENTINEL APRIL 24, 2008
By Monica Lara - Special to The Sentinel

Two Bowie residents won $500 each in the Prince George’s Idol competition at the Publick Playhouse in Cheverly on Saturday. Courtney Wersick, 14, won the 15-and-under category, while Erica Milbourne won the 16-and-over category. The event was hosted by NBC 4’s Pat Lawson Muse, a county resident.

Two aspiring singers from Bowie won $500 in the Prince George’s Idol competition on Saturday night at the Publick Playhouse in Cheverly.

Winners Courtney Wersick, 14, and Erica Milbourne were among 17
Prince George’s County residents who performed a full-length song for a
crowd of 125 people and two judges. Participants ranged from 13 to 55
years old and displayed an array of music styles, including opera, a cappella and pop.

“I think we should call Simon Cowell, [Paula], and Randy and get
them to do some recruiting in PG County,” said anchor Pat Lawson
Muse of NBC4, who was the mistress of ceremonies. As a resident of Prince
George’s County, Muse volunteered after she was approached by the group
Zonta International of the Prince George’s Area, who sponsored the
event.

Zonta International of the Prince George’s Area is a chapter of the global organization Zonta International. The organization is comprised of executives of businesses and professions. They are asked to join and work together to advance the status of
women worldwide through service and advocacy, according to the Zonta
International Web site. The international club is broken down into districts. There are 34 clubs in the district that includes the Prince George’s County Zonta along with clubs in New York City, Virginia and Washington,
D.C. There are approximately 1,000 members, according to the District 3
Web site. The group sponsors service projects in the community. Although the
event was not intended to be a fundraiser, the Prince George’s Idol proceeds the group collects will be donated to the Family Crisis Center, which is a facility in Brentwood. It provides programs and emergency shelter for families affected by domestic violence, according to their Web site.

“The idea is to get the youth involved to showcase their talent in a professional environment,” said Zonta International of Prince George’s County Charter President Marcia Porterfield.

The Prince George’s County Idol was open to residents of all ages. There was a $15 application fee and contestants had to supply lyrics to the song they planned to sing. Friends and family members went to see the performances for $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors. Local businesses, such as Benito’s Brick Oven Italiano and Honda of Bowie, also made contributions of $25 to help fund the event. The money
paid for the use of the Publick Playhouse, printing of the programs and catering by C&C Catering.

The doors opened at 7:15 p.m. to a lobby with tables of cookies, punch
and fruit, vegetable and cheese platters. Guests visited and snacked until
the show began at 8 p.m. Muse introduced each performer with their hobbies and aspirations. The contestants walked to the microphone standing alone at front stage to perform. Two tall potted plants stood on either side of the performers stringed with lights
as their background.

After all the performances, the judges tallied their scores for each contestant in five areas, including pitch and stage presence. Meanwhile, the first Prince George’s Idol winner
Leela Dawson, 14, of Bowie, performed “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” from the film Phantom of the Opera.

All the contestants were brought back to the stage for a final round of applause as they were each given a certificate of recognition. There were two categories of winners, 15 and under and 16 and over. Milbourne of the 16 and over group was announced first
to the roar of applause and cheering from the crowd. Wersick was named
last.

“My face dropped when they called my name because everyone was so good,” said Wersick. “I was holding my lucky charm the whole time. It’s a ladybug my grandmother gave me. I’ll probably put some of the money in the bank. I want to go to a good college.” Wersick hopes to go to The Juilliard School and achieve her dream of
acting on Broadway and the silver screen. ###

Find Out More About Zonta

Founded in 1919, Zonta International is a global organization of executives in business and the professions, working together, to improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health, and professional status of women at the global and local level through service and advocacy.