Berkshire Idols: Jill Gallagher And Renee Lussier

By Susan Bush
08:15AM / Sunday, April 29, 2007

Berkshire Idol adult winner Jill Gallagher and youth winner Renee Lussier. [Photo by Sue Bush]

North Adams - There was laughter and tears, smiles and hugs, and 16 powerful vocal performances. When the stage lights came up, Jill Gallagher and Renee Lussier had captured top spots as the 2007 Berkshire Idol winners.

"I feel like a million bucks!" Gallagher said after being named the adult category winner.

Gallagher, 30, delivered the performance of the night with her heart-charged version of Susan Tedeschi's "It Hurt So Bad." Gallagher is employed as an Elder Services of Berkshire County protective services worker.

Berkshire Idol second place youth winner Marissa Morehouse [Photo by Sue Bush]

Prior to her performance, she said that family and friends encouraged her to enter the fundraising event.

Lussier sang her way to the top during the youth category. A ninth grade student at the Berne-Knox-Westerlo school district, Lussier rocked the Drury High School auditorium with her energetic performance of Sugarland's "Baby Girl."

Prior to her performance, Lussier said she is pursuing a singing career and is one of seven vocalists included on a CD titled "Angels of the Heart."

"I am speechless," she said after receiving a roses bouquet. Lussier lives in Knox, N.Y..

The two-hour extravaganza was emceed by a very dapper David Bond, whose banter and stage presence kept the audience entertained between performances.

Bellmon, Morehouse, Claim Second Place

Anthony Bellmon, 17, of Williamstown captured second place in the adult category with his driving vocal performance of "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," a Temptations hit. Prior to the performance, Bellmon said he was feeling "pretty good."

After taking the second prize, Bellmon said he was feeling "very good."

Berkshire Idol adult second place winner Anthony Bellmon [Photo by Sue Bush]

Youth Idol second place winner Marissa Morehouse, 14, of North Adams, earned her standing with a riveting, exciting performance of Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats."

"I love the song," Morehouse said before the performance. "I'm excited and I'm ready to go out on that stage and sing my heart out."

Tremendous Talent

Williamstown Theater Festival Artistic Director Roger Rees, country music recording artist Michael Joseph, and music industry promoter John Souchack, who once worked to promote the band U2, sat stage-side and offered their thoughts as each performer finished. After youth performances concluded, the judging trio said they were truly excited by the talent they'd seen and were eager to see what the adults had to offer.

"There is a tremendous amount of talent in northwestern Massachusetts," Rees said at the event conclusion. "This was a fantastic group of people."

During an interview prior to the event beginning, Rees described the performance arts as a project that is never finished.

Next Generation

Williamstown Theater Festival Artistic Director and Berkshire Idol judge Roger Rees with Berkshire Food Project Director Valerie Schwarz

"That's the great thing about it; in all it's forms, it's never finished," he said. "We're here tonight helping the next generation get going."

He did not watch the contestant videos posted on-line at www.iberkshires.com for an on-line voting opportunity. He preferred to base his judging on individual live performances, he said.

Performance arts may be pursued and enjoyed by anyone, Rees said.

"There are very, very rich people and there are people who are struggling to make ends meet but everyone loves the arts," he said. "Anyone can enjoy singing, dancing, acting. The Greylock Theater Project [a youth intiative that includes scriptwriting and a WTF performance] is a very good example of that."

First-time judge Joseph is a Richmond native whose CD "Country Strong" was released in 2004.

"This is going to be exciting," Joseph said. "I think this will build a lot of confidence and give a real boost."

Rees and Souchack judged last year's event, and Souchack said he was eagerly anticipating the performances.

"And this is for a very good cause," he said.

$20,778 Raised For Four Entities

The competition generated $20,778 for four Berkshire region non-profit entities. The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, the Elizabeth Freeman Center, the Berkshire Food Project, and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Berkshire County will share in the revenues.

Prizes for the first place winners included $1000 cash [adult category], $1000 U.S. savings bond [youth category]and a four hour session at Skyboro Sound toward the production of a demo CD, additional time at the Substation Recording Studio and pre-production and songwriting with Robby Baier.

12-year-old Abby Andrews waited in costume to perform "Good Morning, Baltimore" from the musical "Hairspray." [Photo by Sue Bush]

Second prize for adult and youth winners is a four hour session at Skyboro Sound with Robby Baier as well as time at the Substation Recording Studio. First and second prize winners may be invited to perform at other venues following the grand finale.


Top fundraiser Angelica "Angel" DeLaRosa won a Vacation Village prize package. DeLaRosa secured $1001 in donations. Gallagher won an iPod after generating over $885 in contributions and Lussier was presented with a Karaoke machine for raising $500 in donations.

A bevy of benefits are generated through events that reveal the talents of a region, Rees said.

"It brings a lot of people together, and it brings awareness to the different agencies," he said.

"And, the crowd goes wild."

Berkshire Idol performances may be viewed at the Berkshire Idol web site during the upcoming week.

Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush@iberkshires.com or at 413-663-3384 ext. 29.