Clarke's own 'Idol'

When a judge broke the tie, making Sarah Shaiman the runner-up at the 2009 Reach for the Stars competition at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater in Eisenhower Park on Aug. 8, the W.T. Clarke High School student took it well.

“I wasn’t really disappointed at all,” said Shaiman, whose narrow second-place finish was decided by one point. “Even if I didn’t win, I would still be happy. The whole experience was fun.”

“Reach for the Stars” is a fairly new Nassau County tradition that emulates the popular Fox television competition “American Idol.” The Nassau event pits young musical sensations from across the county. To make it into the annual competition, prospective participants had to submit an application and audition for a spot.

Being in the spotlight of centerstage was nothing new for Shaiman, 14, now a Clarke sophomore. Music and the arts runs in the Shaiman family. Sarah’s dad, Steve, has his own band and works in the music industry, while her mom, Laura, is a high school orchestra teacher in Suffolk County.

Sarah says that although her father does have a nice voice, her mother must have been the one to pass along the vocal talents. Laura also has a background in musical theater.

Like her mother, Sarah has a passion for musical theater and dreams about a future on Broadway. At Clarke’s middle and high schools, Sarah has starred in the musicals. She is also a member of the Clarke’s Tri-M, the jazz choir and the chorale. Sarah also won a vocal contest at her high school, a similar competition known as “Clarke Idol.”

Rather than soak in the sun of the summer, Sarah spent her time away from the classroom on the stage at Usdan Performing Arts Camp in Wheatley Heights.

“I love acting, singing and dancing,” Sarah said, “and I like to do all three of them at the same time.”

As for “American Idol” aspirations? Sarah has to wait until she turns 16.

“When the time comes,” she said, “we’ll find out.”

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