Semi Finalist 2009,
Quarter Finalist 2010 Kerry Gallagher!
"Teen Idol is the best program a teen could get into with a passion for music. You learn so much and everyone there is there to help you and they have the sweetest intentions."
Miss Kerry Gallagher our 2010 NHS Teen Idol Quarter Finalist is 17 and lives in Haledon, NJ.
Verbatim again! I didn’t want to change a thing on these questions!
What is your earliest memory of performing? This is kind of funny. I’ve always been shy and haven’t had many opportunities to perform yet but when I was younger, maybe 7 or 8, at night when I was supposed to be asleep I’d put my Hilary Duff CD in my radio, put on my head phones and grab a hair brush and pretend I was performing a concert with my cat as an audience until the CD had finished! Thank God no one ever walked in on me, I’d be so embarrassed!
What is your favorite type of music? I listen to all types of music, pop, show tunes, rock, and country. My favorite song at the moment is All I Wanted by Paramore. Hayley Williams has such an incredible voice and the way she belts out in this song gives me the chills. With that said I think it’s safe to say Paramore is my favorite band! Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, and Kellie Pickler are also some of my other favorite artists.
Do you have any nicknames? Many times when I meet someone new and a few minutes after they realize my name’s Kerry, they blurt out Kerbear. I’m gonna call you that, like the Carebears! They’ll think they were the first ones to realize my name can be incorporated with that, but I get that all the time when meeting people so I just smile and laugh and thank them for the ‘new’ nickname haha
Do you have any interesting stories that were told to you by relatives about you? When I was 9 my family and I went to Hersey Park and my grandma, aunt, and my cousin and I went on this roller coaster called the Crazy Mouse. I sat with my grandma, with my aunt and cousin behind us. There were some crazy sharp turns on that ride and I’m tiny so I was moving all over the seat! And during one turn my grandma heard me screaming but not out of excitement this time! She turned to see me hanging halfway out of the ride! My grandma was trying to pull me back in and my aunt and cousin are screaming at the guy to stop the ride while dying of laughter. It’s safe to say that was last time this girl got on a rollercoaster!
What are your goals? Right now, my goals are to discover who I am musically and see what I can do with that. I’d like to make an EP in the next few years. I want to try a little bit of everything. Movies, TV, Broadway, off-Broadway. I want to get as many experiences as I can!
What was your best experience at NHS Teen Idol? Besides making wonderful friends, I’d have to say the Semi Finals from last year was my best experience. I’d never sang by myself in front of a crowd, and I wanted to see if I could really do it. Maybe I didn’t do it as best as I wanted to, but I did it and now I know what I need to work on. Nothing will ever top what I felt for those short three minutes.
Who is your biggest influence? Once again, Hayley Williams. She’s so unique and she’s 100% herself all the time no matter what anyone thinks. She reminds me that I need to stay true to who I am and what I like. I could change myself as many times as I’d like, but eventually I’m going to run out of things to pretend to be.
Who is your biggest fan? This sounds funny, but probably my cat Timmy! Whenever I sing around the house he comes running out of nowhere and jumps around my feet until I stop singing. My biggest human fan, is my best friend Maggie. She’s just so supportive in everything I do. She makes me feel like I can do anything in this business and she’ll be in the front row cheering me on.
Whose biggest fan are you? Hayley Williams (all time favorite!) Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato.
What do you like to do in your spare time? In between school and working I’m actually really into reading. I’m currently really into the Twilight books. Actually I’m addicted to them. Guilty as charged!
What are you doing now? In September I’ll be entering my senior year of high school at Passaic County Technical Institute. And I currently work as a cashier at Wendy’s, glamorous right?
What are your accomplishments? In fifth grade I played a citizen of the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz. In sixth grade I was a flower and the Door Mouse in Alice in Wonderland. And finally in seventh grade I played a mermaid in Peter Pan. All of these shows took Place at Saint Anthony’s School.
What would you like to be remembered for? More than anything, I want to be remembered for staying true to who I am and not changing for anybody. Also, for trying many different things musically.
Do you play an instrument? I’m starting to learn to play the piano. It’s my favorite instrument. The music it creates is just so beautiful and inspiring.
Please let us know what you are currently doing musically! Well, I’m looking for a really good vocal coach, and I’m trying to teach myself to play the piano so I can hopefully start to write my own songs. I’m also preparing myself for next year’s Teen Idol!
How did you hear about NHS teen Idol? Last year a friend of mine told me about it. I was very nervous about doing it, but I made myself follow through!
What do you like best about NHS Teen Idol? Everyone is one big family. This year I made such a good friend there, Matthew Laurence. We still talk all the time on facebook and are making big plans for next year’s event!
Kerry is not only talented but a very well worded young lady! Thank God for her cat Timmy and friend Maggie or else she might not have had the courage to join our NHS Teen Idol Family!
P.S. Kerry, I just happen to love Wendy’s cheeseburgers and fries!
By: Alicia Colletti, Associate Producer, NHS Teen Idol Event
July 2010
Hi Alicia!
This past year I've been trying to find what genre of music I sing best. I'm working on making my own youtube channel and doing some covers and hopefully even some original songs within the next month or so. I recently graduated from high school this year and I'll be attending William Paterson University in the fall to get a degree in psychology.
Kerry
July 2011