THE NEXT ‘IDOL’?
Local teen musician Madison VanDenburg becomes big hit on ‘American Idol’
Local teen musician Madison VanDenburg could be “the next Kelly Clarkson” if the judges on “American Idol” have anything to say about it.
Sunday night the Capital Region native’s American Idol audition aired on the second episode of the show’s 17th season - and the world got to see how judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie reacted to VanDenburg’s rendition of “Speechless” by Dan + Shay.
To put it simply, they were impressed. The entire celebrity panel gave her a standing ovation as she finished the song.
Perry got goosebumps; Richie playfully interrogated the young artist about her true age, and Bryan posted on Facebook “Wow Madison, you literally left us speechless. I hope Dan + Shay see this because it’s awesome,” with hashtags #TheNextIdol #AmericanIdol.
“Do you know what you just did? You rendered us speechless,” Richie told VanDenburg during the audition.
A moment later, Perry predicted VanDenburg as the next contest winner. “I think you’re as good as Kelly Clarkson,” Perry said, referring to the show’s successful inaugural champion. “You could be the next Kelly Clarkson.”
Bryan agreed. “I’m witnessing the next Kelly Clarkson,” he said.
Then the three in unison shouted the show’s famous line “You’re going to Hollywood,” before each giving her a hug.
“This whole experience has been mindblowing, and I can’t help but feel an incredible amount of gratitude for everyone who has and is supporting me,” VanDenburg said on Monday morning, as the online video of her audition was going viral. “This show is making my dream come true!”
One of her many supporters is local fan Vito Ciccarelli, music director at WVCR 88.3 The Saint.
“I knew she would crush it, as I have full confidence in her immense talents,” he said, likening her to another young local artist and Shaker High School student Moriah Formica, who gained some television fame when she was a contestant on The Voice Season 13. “Like her friend Mo Formica, she’s extremely poised and was a fantastic interview.”
Before singing a note in her audition, VanDenburg made a point to shout out her hometown of Cohoes and told the judges a bit about her background in music. “I’ve been in music my whole life,” she shared. “I started piano lessons when I was really young and I gig a lot.”
In addition to playing at local venues, VanDenburg takes music lessons at Modern Day Music School in Clifton Park, where Formica goes too.
“She is a doll,” said owner Paul Benedetti, who recalls VanDenburg coming to the school shortly after she turned 13. “I remember seeing her perform in one of our band shows for the first time, a bit shy but what a voice even then at 13,” he said. “For the past couple years, she has trained with us and has made phenomenal progress.”
Last year Benedetti produced VanDenburg’s first and only release to date.
“She was a pleasure to work with in the studio as well,” he said. “It was her first time recording and being produced and she handled it like a pro. No matter how tired she got, she kept giving her all trying anything I could throw at her. No attitude at all, just willingness to work and make the song as great as she could.”
While Modern Day Music
School sees thousands of students each year, “only a select group have that really something special,” Benedetti said, noting that VanDenburg and Formica are certainly two of them. Of VanDenburg, he said, “She has a raw talent that many would die for, her control and the runs she can do are just amazing.”
VanDenburg’s musical accomplishments so far include winning the first two “Raise Your Voice” voice competitions at Proctors in Schenectady and being chosen to sing the National Anthem for arenas including, the Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy and race tracks such as the Lebanon Valley Speedway. Additionally, VanDenburg recently released her first single “Need A Little Heartbreak,” which is available on all major online music platforms.
When she’s not on TV, the 17-year-old is an 11th grader at Shaker High School.
“Madison is a student who is admired by many for the positive person she is each day,” principal Richard Murphy said. “The Shaker High School community is even prouder of her given the national recognition of her amazing vocal talents! Our school wishes her much success as she continues on this journey.”
Family friend Debbie Lamay, who attended VanDenburg’s American Idol viewing party on Sunday evening at Philly Bar & Lounge in Latham, is proud of her recent success as well.
“It’s just amazing because we’ve watched as she’s grown and she’s so talented,” said Lamay, who also spoke highly of VanDenburg’s character. “Now we just have to watch for the next step and wish her luck when she’s in Hollywood!”