From Howard Beach to Hollywood to the next American Idol?
Howard Beach’s own Pia Toscano is vying to become the next Idol on the top-rated shows tenth season.
On Thursday’s elimination show, Toscano found out she was amongst the top five female vote getters, keeping her safe from elimination for another week and moving her into the top 13.
Auditioning at the New Jersey try-outs, Toscano received one of the prized “golden tickets” to Hollywood. This was not her first trip to Hollywood with Idol. In 2007, she advanced to Hollywood, but her journey ended there.
This year, however, Toscano advanced past Hollywood as one of the top 12 girls. Singing “I’ll Stand By You” on Wednesday night’s show, Toscano received a standing ovation from the panel of judges, Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.
Toscano, who grew up and still lives in Howard Beach, has been singing since she was four. By the time she was 12, she was performing the National Anthem at her junior high school and eventually at games for the Brooklyn Cyclones.
When it came time for high school, Toscano knew that she wanted to attend a school where she could pursue music so she went to LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts. She graduated from the school in 2006.
Her fans are not just relegated to this borough. Her Facebook fan page contains messages of encouragement from people across the country and the globe.
Toscano will continue her journey to be the last singer left on the stage next week.
See Toscano, before she was an American Idol singing at a Courier event.
