91成人导航

The new season of American Idol will feature a familiar face Sunday, March 16 as 91成人导航 alumnus Filo Ebid 鈥�23 takes the stage before judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

Sunday鈥檚 episode of the popular singing competition will feature Ebid鈥檚 audition for the show along with other Idol hopefuls.

It鈥檚 not the first time the Conservatory of Music graduate has taken a shot at winning a singing competition.

鈥淢y first competition was at 12 years old,鈥� Ebid said. 鈥淚 was a little kid competing in a French singing competition against some much older musicians. Even though I was competing for fun, I ended up placing fifth. That experience really fueled me to continue singing as much as I could.鈥�

Although the stakes are arguably higher now as he embarks on this season of American Idol, music has always been a common thread of comfort and support in uncertain times for the first-generation Tiger, who is from Egypt.

鈥淚 had just started 8th grade as an immigrant in a new American society and I didn鈥檛 know if I鈥檇 ever fit in. Then, I walked past a flyer for auditions for the school musical. I didn鈥檛 even know what a musical was at the time, but I happened to be a huge fan of Shrek, which was the show that they were putting on,鈥� he recalled.

Ebid decided to audition and landed the title role. Getting to play Shrek was a pivotal moment, and the starting point of many more title roles to come.

鈥淚t was the first time I felt like I was accepted into this new American society. From that moment, I knew that being on stage was my calling. I really fell in love with the stage and realized that I wanted to perform for the rest of my life.鈥�

Ebid went on to play two title roles during his time at 91成人导航: Macheath in 鈥�The Threepenny Opera鈥� by Kurt Weill and The Baker in 鈥�Into the Woods鈥� by Stephen Sondheim. The productions earned first and second place respectively in the National Opera Association鈥檚 annual production competition.

鈥淗is most prominent gift is his love of singing. He really, really loves it. Anything he can get his hands on to try and do with his voice, he will try and do it. I remember assigning him a particularly difficult operatic aria and he was very enthusiastic about the challenge, and he was able to do it,鈥� said Program Director for Voice and Chair of Music Performance Daniel Ebbers. 鈥淚 think when you hear him in his element, especially live, he has a certain energy. There is this feeling that when you hear him, you feel he loves the music and it鈥檚 so enjoyable to watch a performer like that.鈥�

The 23rd season of debuted March 9. Prior to the season premiere, Ebid received a Platinum Ticket that enabled him to bypass the first round of Hollywood Week and move directly to the next stage of the competition.

The exclusive pass is given to only the top three contestants with the best auditions of the season.

鈥淭his experience has proven to me that all the blood, sweat and tears were not in vain. An opportunity like American Idol shows you how you can fit in the industry, so this was a huge validation that I was meant to be a musician and to sing for the rest of my life,鈥� Ebid said. 聽

American Idol premiered in 2002 and features aspiring artists from across the country performing in front of celebrity judges, hoping to earn America鈥檚 vote and launch their music careers. Watch Ebid鈥檚 debut appearance March 16 at 8 p.m. on ABC and join a watch party to come together in support of a fellow Tiger in the DeRosa University Center Lair weekly on Sunday nights.聽