Sara Sturm with her golden ticket. Photo Contributed
It’s too early to know whether Centreville resident Sara Sturm will be the next American Idol; but at least, she has a chance. That’s because, after auditioning on the singing-competition show that aired Jan. 13 on national TV, she received a golden ticket to Hollywood.
“I was nervous and so scared when I went on, but it was so worth it,” said the Westfield High senior. “I believed in myself that I could get the golden ticket; and when I got it, I was just in shock. Then I ran outside to my family and we had a celebration.”
Her parents are Judy and Bob Sturm of Sully Station I, and her brother Josh is a junior at James Madison University. She’s been in choir all four years at Westfield and is team manager of the boys’ varsity lacrosse team. She’s also a pop/R&B singer who hopes to major in voice at Middle Tennessee State University or Belmont University after graduation.
Sturm’s goal is to “make it in the music industry and become a professional singer. I can’t imagine doing anything else, at this point.” She just turned 18, but was 17 when she auditioned for “American Idol” last August in Philadelphia. “I’ve been watching all these [music-competition] shows for years and thought, ‘I can do that, too,’” she said.
In 2014, she tried out for a similar show, “The Voice,” and, out of 50,000 hopefuls nationwide, Sturm was chosen as one of the top 100 contestants. But all the coaches’ teams filled up moments before it was her turn to audition for them. Yet, she didn’t give up — and she also attracted the attention of the producers and vocal coaches. So the following year, she was invited to audition for FOX-TV’s 15th and final season of “American Idol.”
Besides attending school, Sturm is also a hostess/waitress at Chantilly’s Eggspectation restaurant. And during her audition before judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr., she mentioned some funny things that had happened at her job. “They loved how Eggspectation was a play on words,” said Sturm.
Then she wowed them with her rendition of the song, “Lips Are Movin,’” by Meghan Trainor. “It’s an upbeat song that I thought really fit my voice and personality,” said Sturm. The judges agreed, giving her three “yes” votes.
Lopez called her “fearless” and a “really good singer,” and Urban said he also liked Sturm’s confidence. “I think you’re pretty special and have a sound that belies your years,” Connick told her. “I think you’re adorable and I liked your voice.”
Then, unable to resist a few puns, Urban said, “You did meet our ‘eggspectations.’” Handing Sturm her golden ticket, Lopez said, “Just a little yolk.” And Connick said, “Omelet [I’m going to let] you through to Hollywood.”
Afterward, said the teen, “It went well; but when I first saw them, I was so star-struck. I thought, ‘OMG, this is real.’ And Jennifer Lopez literally generated light.”
On Jan. 13, Eggspectation hosted a viewing party for Sturm, her family and friends so they could all watch her audition on TV together. The gathering of some 70 people included her friends from school, coaches and her choir teacher.
“Everyone was so excited, they started screaming when I walked into the room,” she said. “And it was crazy seeing myself on TV — it’s an experience I’ll never forget.”
Her dad, though, wasn’t surprised by his daughter’s good fortune. “Sara’s been singing nonstop since age 4,” he said. “I knew when she was a little girl that she was destined for great things because she had a fantastic voice even then.”
She’s also sung at various events — including a performance of the National Anthem at a Washington Wizards basketball game — so she’s gotten used to singing before crowds. And her dad says she comes by her talent naturally.
“My family comes from a long line of musicians,” said Bob Sturm. “My dad played backup piano for [legendary jazz trumpeter] Tommy Dorsey, both my sisters went to Juilliard and I studied voice in college. My wife and I and our whole family are incredibly proud of Sara.”
“I’m just really excited about her future,” added her brother at the viewing party. “She’s an amazing talent and, from here, she can only go up. Anything’s possible. And seeing everyone who came here tonight, you can see how much she means to other people.”
After Sturm’s performance, she got 300 new followers on Instagram, and even country music superstar and former “Idol” winner Carrie Underwood tweeted and told Sturm she’s “adorable.”
The show doesn’t allow her to reveal how things went for her in Hollywood, so fans will just have to keep tuning in to find out. Meanwhile, she said, “Thank you to all my friends and family who supported me. And anyone out there who believes in themselves shouldn’t hold back; take that opportunity [to follow your dream] and don’t wait.”