Inside Dooney’s Pub in Delran two months ago, contestants belted out songs for the township’s first 08075 Can Sing.
Inside Dooney’s Pub in May, contestants belted out songs for Delran’s first 08075 Can Sing.
Participants were scored on vocals, stage presence, costume and audience appreciation.
“For the first 08075 Can Sing, we had some of the most incredible talent you’ve ever seen and the judges had a really tough time, but we were able to select three of the finest, most amazing singers we’ve seen,” Mayor Barnes Hutchins said.
Chase Mailhiot, 12, of Moorestown, came out on top, and two runners up, Nathalia Teixeira,, 17, and Nygel Wells, 25, to second and third, respectively.
Hutchins and members of township council presented the top singers with an award of achievement at a meeting in June. And they will take center stage and open Delran’s Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Teixeira, and Wells, both township residents, will perform one song each and Mailhiot will perform a 20-minute set.
“This competition actually came about long before I became mayor,” Hutchins relayed. “My wife is a singer and we do a lot of karaoke. Though fun, the singers don’t get the recognition they truly deserve and most people don’t realize the talent.
“So one day we decided to throw a party at the house,” he added, “and invite the whole town and call it 08075 Can Sing, a nod to Delran’s zip code. “We did a full-on karaoke contest and I put up a cash prize to the winner, because we wanted to give these guys somewhere they could go and have their talent showcased.
“So fast forward a few years to October 2024,” Hutchins continued. “My wife (Samantha) was in a vocal competition and we loved the structure. We spoke with the director and explained that if I were elected mayor, we would want to bring this to our town and structure it in the same fashion, because we wanted to create an opportunity to put local talent on the Delran Night Out stage.
“We wanted to see our friends and neighbors up there, getting their moment in the spotlight.”
When Hutchins became mayor in January, his wife joined the town’s Recreation Advisory Committee.
“With the help of the amazing (committee) volunteers, the members of the township and Dooney’s Pub, we were able to bring this competition to our town,” he said.
The competition was open to all ages and the top 18 competitors ranged from 11 to 59. Mailhiot, who has been singing essentially since he “came out of the womb,” happened to perform at Hutchins’ 08075 Can Sing when the mayor held it at his home two years ago.
The youngster has been taking voice lessons for the past five years with Courtney Halpin MacBride, whose stage name is CORii. She’s a singer-songwriter who’s appeared on NBCs “Songland” and “The Voice.”
MacBride has not only helped Mailhiot with his vocals, but guided his stage presence.
“With steep competition,” he explained, “you have to show how to win over people.”
Because of the 08075 Can Sing competition, Hutchins noted Mailhiot was offered a slot at the Mercer County Italian Festival, set for the first weekend in October. Wells will join Mailhiot there. He recently signed with a producer and linked up with background singers, and will make his debut at Oldies on the River in Bristol, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 20.
“We had an amazing first year,” Hutchins enthused, “and we’re looking forward to 08075 being an annual event as we continue to scour Delran and our surrounding towns for the next 08075 Can Sing winner.”
