By Sophie Taillefer
“Rising Stars” Brighten Up the 2009 MAMTG Spring Festival
The Mid Atlantic Music Teachers Guild (MAMTG) held their annual spring festival at the Holiday Inn in Hazlet, New Jersey, on March 27, 28, and 29. Many local talented singers from Sophie Taillefer’s “Rising Stars Voice Studio”, located in Bordentown, participated in this competition and took home 18 trophies.
Lorraine Perri, a junior at Florence Township High School, was awarded 1st place in the MAMTG Idol vocal competition. Out of the six finalists that were selected out of the large number of participants, four of them were from “Rising Stars Voice Studio”. Kirstie Smith, a freshman at Florence Township High School, took 2nd place. Ashley LeBlanc, Florence Township High School junior, and Emma Rulli, 3rd grader at Fountain Wood School in Burlington Township, both came in 4th place.
Other “Rising Stars” winners bringing home trophies were: Lauren Lynch, Kyle Sheehan, Riannon Taylor, Michelle Jacoby, Michelle Foster, Dante Lucchesi, Haley Weiss, Zachary Manno, Giselle Ard, Karlee SanGiovanni, and Skyeler Paparteys.
When you want to experience a “Class Act”, you need to be in the company of all of these young and talented artists. They supported each other throughout the entire competition. You almost forgot they were there to compete. The families and friends of these young artists were also encouraging and supportive. With the guidance and vocal training from Sophie Taillefer and the “Rising Stars Voice Studio”, these students are developing beautiful voices, confidence, and Positive Life Lessons to share with the world.

