By Mark Ambrogi
Courtney Krauter has already had one moment of glory in CarmelFest Has Talent.
Krauter, then a Carmel Middle School student, captured the 12-and-under division when she was 12 years old.
“It was insane,” said Krauter, who sang Barbra Streisand’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”
When she was eligible for the 13 to 17 age group, she entered twice but wasn’t selected, so she skipped it until this year.
“I was ill-prepared, because I hadn’t practiced my song a lot,” said Krauter, who lives in Carmel and will be Herron High School senior. “I listened to the other girls singing, and they were awesome. So I was going in there a little nervous. I was shocked when I made the top five. I was really proud of myself.”
Krauter, 17, sang “Cups” (“When I’m Gone”) during the audition, but isn’t sure what she will sing in the semifinals July 3. The top three advance to the July 4 final. Krauter, who describes her singing style as a belter, has performed in musicals for Civic Theatre’s Youth Artists Program and Summer Stock Stage.
In addition to Krauter, the 13-17 semifinalists are Alexandra Burgess, Noblesville, Grace Eckelbarger, Noblesville, Breanna Jaffe, Indianapolis, and Reilly Spiller, Westfield. Burgess and Eckelbarger were 2015 semifinalists.
Alexandria Boaz, who moved to Carmel with her parents in December, earned a semifinal spot in the 18-and-older category.
“The reason I am competing in the CarmelFest is because my dad told me about the opportunity, and I decided to seize it,” Boaz said. “I also thought it would be really cool to perform on the Fourth of July.”
Boaz, who will be a Middle Tennessee State sophomore this fall after transferring from Illinois State, has performed the national anthem at several sporting events, including a University of Illinois men’s basketball game and a Chicago White Sox game.
Joining Boaz as 18-and-over semifinalists are Amy Conrad, Westfield, Gerald Dycus, Indianapolis, Jayson Hofmeister, Sweetser, and Seth Voegele, Noblesville. Hofmeister was a 2015 semifinalist.
The 12-and-under semifinalists are Ben Boyce, Carmel, Keegan Connor, Westfield, Sophie McCoskey, Noblesville, Lori Olin, Greenfield and Allie Rosenfeld, Carmel. McCoskey is the youngest competitor at age 7.
The semi-finalists
12 and younger
- Ben Boyce, Carmel
- Keegan Connor, Westfield
- Jill McCoskey, Noblesville
- Lori Olin, Greenfield
- Allie Rosenfeld, Carmel
13 to 17 years old
- Alexandra Burgess, Noblesville
- Grace Eckelbarger, Noblesville
- Breanna Jaffe, Indianapolis
- Courtney Krauter, Carmel
- Reilly Spiller, Westfield
18 and older
- Alexandria Boaz, Carmel
- Amy Conrad, Westfield
- Gerald Dycus, Indianapolis
- Jayson Hofmeister, Sweetser
- Seth Voegele, Noblesville
