Eden Prairie’s top voices take the stage

The ninth annual Eden Prairie Sings! competition, part of the city’s Arts in the Park festival, delivered a night of vocal talent and community spirit on Aug. 16 at Purgatory Creek Park.

Hosted by the Eden Prairie Optimist Club, the event featured nine singers competing for cash prizes and a chance to represent the city at the Minnesota Sings state vocal contest this fall. Despite a rain delay, the evening drew a crowd and showcased what organizers called the most diverse lineup in the competition’s history, with contestants ranging in age from 13 to 20.

First place went to Sophia Repice, a School of Rock veteran competing for the third time.

She and her brother, Hudson, became the contest’s first sibling entrants; Hudson performed a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne with Black Sabbath’s “Changes.” After placing third in two prior years, Sophia returned for “one last try” and won with a powerful performance of Paramore’s “Decode.” She received $200, along with paid registration and partial travel expenses to the state finals.

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Her mother, Stef Repice, said afterward: “We’re so proud of Sophia! She hopped off a plane, competes and wins a singing competition. Now she will be representing Eden Prairie in the state competition in October!”

Other winners included:

• Second place: Sadie Maguire, who earned $150 for her rendition of Reneé Rapp’s “In the Kitchen.”
• Third place: Lilianna Rindal, who won $100 with Beyoncé’s “Listen.”
• Honorable mention: Grace Hunter, recognized for her performance of Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.”

Additional contestants were Charlee Jones with “What Baking Can Do” from “Waitress,” Hannah Barisonzi with “My Days” from “The Notebook,” Selah Harmon with “The House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals, and Annabelle Engesser with “Tightrope” from “The Greatest Showman.”

The evening also featured encore performances from past winners. Miriam Gilbertson, who won in 2024, sang “On My Own” from “Les Misérables.” Lainey Donoghue, the 2023 first-place winner, returned with Kristin Chenoweth’s “The Girl in 14G.”

Adult performer Leo Pusateri, who has sung at Eden Prairie Sings! in recent years before the competition begins, performed “If a Picture Paints a Thousand Words” by Bread.

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“We were amazed by the nine singers this year, by far the most diverse vocal talent in our nine years,” said organizer and emcee Ryan Affolter of the Eden Prairie Optimist Club. “The passion from every single performer truly made this a night to remember.”

Repice, Gilbertson and Donoghue will advance to the Minnesota Sings state finals Oct. 11-12 at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Minnesota, where singers will compete for up to $30,000 in cash and prizes.

The Eden Prairie Optimist Club, active in the community since 1978, sponsors the competition as part of its mission to support youth through scholarships and service programs.

For more updates, visit the Eden Prairie Optimist Club on Facebook.