Photo by Andrea Roberts
Michigan City’s Savannah Holley sings an operatic number at Hoosier Star on Saturday at the La Porte Civic Auditorium. Holley’s performance was greeted with enthusiastic fanfare, and she placed first in the 17-and-under youth division.
Krueger alum Savannah Holley tops competition at Hoosier Star
By Andrea Roberts and Seidet Segura
Staff writers
La PORTE – After seven years of auditioning, Savannah Holley competed and won at the 17th annual Hoosier Star singing competition.
Holley, a Krueger Middle school alum, won a $1,000 cash prize in the 17-and-under youth division on Saturday at the La Porte Civic Auditorium.
Holley, 17, had auditioned to be a Hoosier Star finalist six times before. This was her first time singing at the event. She was very excited to perform.
“It felt so euphoric,” she said. “I just felt so at home, so at ease.”
The event was hosted by the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra. The live orchestra performed with each finalist and was directed by Dr. Carolyn Watson.
Holley performed “Poor Wandering One,” from the opera The Pirates of Penzance.
When Holley sang, she received a standing ovation from the audience. This featured several Krueger staff members, including her mother, Dorothea Holley.
“She did better than she’s ever performed before,” Dorothea Holley said. “I could tell that she just was loving the orchestra, and then she was just feeling it.”
Holley competed against four other finalists. Krishaa Motycka won second place in the youth division.
Julia Thorn won first place in the adult division, while Shania Pavlock won second place.
King was pleased with how the event turned out and was impressed with the finalists.
“This group this year has been so easy,” King said. “They’ve been easy, maintained, they showed up on time, (and) they’ve been prepared.”
Holley has had a long journey preparing to get where she is today.
She did voice lessons at Roxy Music in La Porte when she was 10 years old. She also has performed in ISSMA Solo and Ensemble, All-State Choir, and Monday Musicale.
Additionally, Holley is a member of Michigan City’s Footlight Theatre.
At 16 years old, she graduated from Michigan City High School in 2021 with a 4.5 GPA. Today, she is studying to achieve her singing dreams at Indiana University Bloomington’s Jacobs School of Music.
“Never give up, and no matter how poor you think you do and no matter how much you judge yourself, just keep pushing,” Holley said. “Because, I promise you do better than you think you do, and there’s gonna be an audience out there who knows the same and knows that you are worth a lot.”