Sophomore John Garbero grabbed the attention of Facebook friends and the viewers of YouTube when he posted his audition tape for the Vocal Academy at Oberlin College of Ohio that he sent early January.

“A lot of people have told me I have a lot of talent and I wanted to get that talent out in the public,” Garbero said.

The Oberlin Conservatory of Music offers a nine-day, intensive workshop mid July. Garbero will be notified of his acceptance on April 1.

“I want to go to Oberlin because it’s affordable and of the choices, my singing teachers recommended it to me,” Garbero said. “I’ll be excited if I make it.”

In his audition, Garbero sang “o’del Mio Dolce Ardor” by von Gluck and an old English melody “False Phillis.”

“I wanted to use songs that I knew well and were good for my voice,” Garbero said.

Garbero began singing at the age of 14 and credits his singing abilities to his vocal teacher Claudia Fallert. Garbero has been learning under Fallert for two years now.

“He has been diligent in improving his technique, and he is learning to really tell the stories in his songs with appropriate vocal emotions.  John is a very had worker, serious about learning to sing well, and I hope he pursues music in college,” Fallert said.

Last March, Garbero received the highest score (which was not disclosed to him) from three judges and won first place in his division, moving him up from the second division to the fourth. to the 4th in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition.

“Winning made me feel confident in my potential as a singer and that I should pursue singing,” Garbero said

Garbero will keep singing a part of his life and hopes to make a career out of it in the future.