Aston's Gianni Palmarini Wins Delco Idol Junior 2012 at Media Theatre

When a person, particularly a child or teenager, sings so naturally well that it touches the soul of anyone who listens (including middle aged adults and senior citizens) there is no question that the 'X' factor is in their genes.

Gianni Palmarini, 12, of Aston, is one of those people. At his age, to be able to bring adults to tears as he performed classic tunes like, "True Colors" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water," is more than an accomplishment...it's a gift. The gift is inherent in the singer and the song, while the listeners and watchers receive the gift of being moved by its two-to-three minute life of phrasing and melody.

Almost anyone can carry a tune if they know music or have a favorite song. But not everyone is able to bring that tune or song to life in such a way that it connects beyond the moment into an indelible place in one's memory, causing you to want to hear the exact same performer sing the exact same song again and again and again. It's what made Whitney Houston's recording of, "Greatest Love Of All" the epitomizing version of the 1977 song. The person, the voice, and the song all come together to create a uniquely identifying iconic classic—one in which people ask, "Where were you the first time you heard it?"

Gianni Palmarini is one of those talents, and will--if there is any justice in this world--someday reach the masses with his voice, which seems to come from somewhere that is not of this world. It's pop, it's spiritual, and it's why he won "Delco Idol Junior 2012" at .

The Top Five contestants were history making in that this was the very first time in any "Delco Idol" that siblings made the top five. Beada (11, who was in fifth place) and Dan Briglia (12, who was in second place), both extremely talented yet so different it's often difficult to recognize the fact that they are related, gave each other the 'high five' when their names were called following intermission. They are from Media.

Maura McManus was in fourth place. A 13-year-old from Chadds Ford, she is one to watch in coming years as she and her talent mature. She very well could be, if she chooses to pursue it, a professional music theatre actress as one might see her in shows such as "South Pacific" and "The Sound of Music."

Emily Steinhardt received third place. She's 12 and lives in Berwyn, but is another one who may call NYC her home in a decade or so as she begins auditioning for Broadway musicals.

Bill Vargus, the emcee for "Delco Idol Junior 2012," did an awesome job of keeping audiences alert and relaxed throughout the competition and reminded them at the end that, "even though we had just a handful of guys in the contest this year, the dudes pulled through and they are the Top Two" before he announced that Gianni Palmarini was the winner. Vargus choked up as he stated, "Gianni is someone who, at his young age, has been through quite a bit and to do what he has done her the past five weeks is just incredible."

Jesse Cline, the artistic director for The Media Theatre and the one main constant judge for "Delco Idol Junior," stated after Gianni's song in Act One that, "this was one of your best performances."

This blogger asked Gianni what winning meant to him. The youngster paused for three seconds, blinked his eyes, and said, quite calmly, "Everything. It means everything."

Congratulations to all of the young "Delco Idol Junior 2012" contestants and much applause. We will see you next year at The Media Theatre for Delco Idol 2013!

Visit us at www.mediatheatre.org or call 610-891-0100 to see what's coming up.