"My favorite part is the camaraderie between everyone there. It’s really like one big family, what with the contestants, stage manager Julene, the host Carmen, and the Colletti family, who all have a big hand in running the whole show. It’s competitive, but in a fun way. There’s no cutthroat politics or favoritism." - EJ
EJ Couloucoundis our NHS Teen Idol 2010 Male Winner is 16 and lives in Darien, CT.
EJ answered my questions with such perfection and precision, this interview is verbatim! - Alicia
What is your earliest memory of performing? My earliest memory of singing was my 5th grade talent show, where I sang an a capella version of “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban, something that foreshadowed the kind of music I would sing in years to come.
What is your favorite type of music? I’m a huge jazz nut. There’s nothing better to me than popping in some Wynton Marsalis or Michael Buble. That being said, I basically enjoy any kind of music, and have songs of all genres on my iPod.
Do you have any nicknames? EJ itself is a nickname, short for Emmanuel. However, I’ve also been called EG.
Do you have any interesting stories that were told to you by relatives about you? I was 2, at a dinner my family was at. I had the bright idea of grabbing the tablecloth, and yanking it with everyone’s food on top. Everyone shrieked, expecting a crash, but magically, everything stayed on the table. I guess that counts as a performance, considering the applause I got.
What are your goals? My goal is to put my music out in front of people, and become a huge success, and bring quality music back into the peoples’ eye.
What was your best experience at NHS Teen Idol? My best experience has to have been in the 2010 Semifinals. (This is my second year competing) Nobody knew about the song I was singing, Cry Me a River by Michael Buble. Some had heard the original by Julie London, but the update was a mystery. So I walk on stage, and signal for the music to start. As the introduction started with a bang (Literally, since there was a large drum part), the entire audience went silent. I looked out at everyone staring, enraptured, and I couldn’t help but laugh a bit. People came back to me later, and asked me to do it again for the finals. I did.
Who is your biggest influence? My biggest influence is tied. I get a lot of my performance techniques and modern style from Michael Buble, but Frank Sinatra the person I base my sound on, so I have to credit them equally.
Who is your biggest fan? That’s a tough one. All of my family is incredibly supportive. I’ve never had to worry about them not being behind me every step of the way so far. My friends are also huge supporters, always cheering me on whenever I perform.
Whose biggest fan are you? For celebrities, I am the biggest fan of Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, and Wynton Marsalis. However, I’m also the biggest fan of my little brother, who has 3 black belts in Taekwondo at 13, my friend Marco, an aspiring guitarist and an excellent one at that, and my other friend Sam, a fantastic artist.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Alas, I am a mere 16-year-old, and my time is consistently occupied with video games, sleep, and the occasional trampoline tomfoolery when not singing or doing homework.
What are you doing now? I’ll be a junior in high school when Autumn rolls around, but for now, I’m taking classes for singing and music theory to broaden my horizons.
What are your accomplishments? Other than my much-cherished Teen Idol 1st place trophy, I don’t actually have much in the way of awards and prizes. However, I count my different performances as awards themselves. Foremost in my mind are two cherished times, the first being my performance at Carnegie Hall when I was 14 opening for a Metropolitan Opera singer, Monica Yunus, and a much more recent performance at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, as part of the Mannes College of Music Preparatory Division’s senior chorus. To get the chance to sing at hallowed venues like those are better than ribbons or trophies to me.
Recently I organized a "Harmonies for Haiti" Concert in my hometown and am very proud that we managed to raise about $8000 for the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. I hope that my singing can continue to help people less fortunate than me.
What would you like to be remembered for? You mean other than my vast collection of bad puns? I’d probably like to be remembered as someone who sang for himself, rather than for money or fame.
Do you play an instrument? I play the greatest (in my humble opinion) of all string instruments- the vocal cords. Nothing else.
Describe NHS Teen Idol in 20 words or less… A great place to find where you’re going, to meet friends, and to sing your heart out!
Please let us know what you are currently doing musically! As of this interview, I’m performing at my town’s carnival, and then going off to the famous Litchfield Jazz Camp for training.
How did you hear about NHS teen Idol? I’m not a newcomer- I participated in the 2009 contest. However, back then, I simply found out through internet surfing, coming upon it by happenstance.
What do you like best about NHS Teen Idol? My favorite part is the camaraderie between everyone there. It’s really like one big family, what with the contestants, stage manager Julene, the host Carmen, and the Colletti family, who all have a big hand in running the whole show. It’s competitive, but in a fun way. There’s no cutthroat politics or favoritism.
Note from Alicia: I am Happy to say, I spoke to EJ the morning of the Finals...I was one of the people that told him to do it again!
