AND THE FINALISTS ARE!

The finalists have been selected for the NJN HISPANIC YOUTH SHOWCASE 2003. The competition will take place on May 23rd at 7 PM at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. It took months of screening video tapes and holding auditions in Camden and Newark to come up with this talented cavalcade of young stars that will adorn the stage of NJPAC's Victoria Theater.

When the curtain rises, 37 representatives from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, will test their vocal chords, dance moves and instrumental training in two divisions: juniors 8 to 12 years old and teens 13 to 17 years of age. Two winners will be selected in each category of dance, vocals and instrumentals for a total of 12 winners. They will be competing for $500 scholarships in honor of the King of Latin Music, Tito Puente: the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz; and the international dance star, Beatriz Rodriguez. Besides winning the $500 scholarships, the lucky twelve will receive a free trip to Six Flags Great Adventure and much more.

NJN will air a television special honoring the winners of the competition during the summer of 2003. The television broadcast, as well as the this year's competition at NJPAC, will be dedicated to the valor and greatness of baseball legend and Puerto Rican national hero, Roberto Clemente. 30 years ago on December 31, 1972, Roberto lost his life in a tragic plane crash just off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Clemente gave up a New Year's family celebration to help bring supplies and save the lives of victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua. His heroic act serves as a guiding light for all of us.

The NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase is the longest running Latino children's program on a PBS. It has received an Emmy Award and multiple Emmy nominations. The national Arts Council Co-op has selected the program as one of the top six children's programs in the nation. Past and present participants have appeared in Hollywood movies, Broadway, Star
Search, the Apollo, "Sabado Gigante" and international commercials.
For the 2003 competition, our special guests performers will be the children's orchestra of the Jazz Institute of New Jersey.

Here now are the finalists for 2003:
(In order of appearance at NJPAC)