Love to Sing? Farmington Idol Winner Says 'Go For It'

If love singing, and you've thought about competing in the Farmington Idol competition, last year's winner has some simple advice. 

"Just do it, even if you don't think you have a shot," 17-year-old Deepak Kumar said.

The Farmington Hills resident speaks from experience. He enjoys singing, but had never competed before last year's event. Kumar said his father convinced him to enter. 

"I was really nervous," he said. "I don't normally sing in front of people."

The Idol win changed all that. During his senior year at the International Academy in Bloomfield Hills, he put on a show for the Children's Leukemia Society at Seaholm High School in Birmingham and performed in a cultural show at . 

There were also some fringe benefits, besides the trophy and cash prize. His father bought him a new guitar.

"My family treated me like royalty for three days," Kumar said. "I don't think they expected me to last through the first day." 

This year's Farmington Idol will be chosen from among 10 finalists who will compete July 20 in downtown Farmington, during Founders Festival. The preliminary round will be held at on July 19, with registration at 5 p.m. and competition at 6 p.m. 

Contestants must be at least 16 years of age to enter and need not be a resident of Farmington and Farmington Hills. Applications are available at Drakeshire and at  in downtown Farmington, which hosts open mic nights on alternate Mondays. Call 248-987-6481 for the next date. 

Drakeshire will also offer open mic nights 8:30 p.m.-11 p.m. on Fridays leading up to the competition, except for June 15 and July 6.