CLARKSBURG, W.Va (WDTV) – The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival launched its first annual Singer of the Year competition Sunday evening at the Robinson Grand Theater, adding a new event to a festival that has been a Labor Day weekend tradition in Clarksburg since 1979.<\/p>\n
The competition featured singers from across the state, including performers from the local area. Each contestant was required to have Italian heritage and was given the opportunity to perform a song of their choosing on the main stage before a panel of judges and a live audience.<\/p>\n
Committee member Stephen Pishner said the idea grew gradually as organizers looked to bring something new to the 2026 festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s scary at first when you do something like this because you don\u2019t know if people are going to respond to this, it\u2019s a shot in the dark,\u201d Pishner said. \u201cFirst there were 3, then there were 4, then there were 5 and then it just changes to what we have this evening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pishner said the event drew inspiration from competition shows currently airing on television.<\/p>\n
\u201cContests like this used to be common place back in the day, now they\u2019re being resurrected on television with things like American Idol, The Voice, and America\u2019s Got Talent,\u201d Pishner said. \u201cSo we thought why not do something like that with the Italian Heritage Festival being at the head of it and offering this opportunity for people to perform.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Although the competition took place Sunday, the winner will not be announced until June 1. Judges account for 50% of the final vote, the live audience contributes 25%, and the remaining 25% comes from online voters through the Italian Heritage Festival\u2019s website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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