Local Singer Takes First at Freehold Idol

Sofia Khorosh has been singing since before she could speak, taking her voice and passion to stages throughout the area.

Recently, the 15-year-old East Brunswick High School sophomore brought her talent to Freehold to participate in the Freehold Idol competition, where she took first place.

“I try to enter contests like these as much as I can. I won third place in the East Brunswick Teen Idol in March at the East Brunswick High School. Also, I'm going to try out for American Idol this summer,” she said.

The participants in the second round of Freehold Idol stopped traffic in front of the Hall of Records with their singing talents. Downtown Freehold, the town's business partnership, sponsors the contest, which is held Wednesday nights and is hosted by Lisa Anderson of radio station WWZY, The Breeze.

Freehold resident Nina Sophia Mojares, a student of Freehold Idol judge Brenda K. Starr, opened and closed the show with a stunning voice and professional poise far beyond her 12 years.

Then it came time for Starr, a professional singer who helped discover Mariah Carey, and her fellow judges, Freehold Borough Arts Council President Neal Girandola,  and Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts founder Joe Orlando to get down to business.

The competition proved fierce in the second week of Freehold Idol. George Aline, of Howell, kept it old school with a performance of Al Jolson’s “Rockabye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody” that drew in the whole crowd with Aline’s smooth voice. Brianna Kaplan, 16, of Ocean Township, soared with “Defying Gravity” from the musical Wicked.

However, the judges could only pick three winners from the lineup—actually, make that four. There was a tie in the 15 to 22 age group, with Allie Gorenc, of Manalapan, taking first place with “Never Neverland” and Sofia joining her with a rendition of “Before He Cheats.” Melissa Cecchini, of Freehold, took first place in the 10 to 14 age group for her performance of “A Thousand Miles.”  Freehold resident Margaret Dobbins won the 23 and above age group with “At Last.”

Area “Idol” competitions aren’t the only places Sofia takes her skills. She takes voice and guitar lessons with Vinny Daniele in Redbank and performed at the Summer of Love Concert with Glen Burtnik and Patty Smyth at the Count Basie Theater.

“Singing is something I'd absolutely love to pursue after high school. In fact, it's honestly the only thing I've ever wanted to do,” she said. “I was in a band for two years and taught myself to play guitar about a year and a half ago in order to better myself. I also write my own songs, manage a YouTube account, Facebook fanpage, and Twitter. Singing is, and has always been my life.”

The three singers will move on to the final round, which will be held Wednesday, Aug. 17 and Wednesday, Aug. 24. The first place winner in each age group will receive $500 and recording time at the Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts; the second place winner will receive $250; and the third place winner will receive $100. Freehold Idol is sponsored by Downtown Freehold, the business partnership in Freehold Borough.

Watch Sofia at the 42 second mark of the accompanying video singing "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. 

Check out Sofia at www.youtube.com/SofiaNicoleMusic, www.facebook.com/SofiaNicoleMusic and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsSofiaNicole.