The 2026 Lamorinda Idols final competition was held on Aug. 16 at the Orinda Theatre. Winners were announced in solo and group performances.  The performers had spent months in the competition, participating in many different types of events leading up to the August Finals. 
 
    From registration in April, there were in-person auditions in May, followed by a summer social in June, as well as numerous performances at Lamorinda events. After marching in the Fourth of July parade in Orinda, the finalists performed in Orinda Community Park and Moraga Commons.

    Then came the Finals rehearsal and at last, the much-anticipated Finals on Aug. 16. Between June and August, finalists were offered one-on-one Zoom workshops to work on their song performance, as well as up to four in-person workshops.

    Idol winners will be performing at the Orinda Classic Car Show on Sept. 12 and finalists will perform at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival on Sept. 20.

    Established in 2006, Lamorinda Idol is a singing program open to Kindergarten through 12th grade students who either attend a school or reside in Lamorinda, the area including the towns of Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda.  Singers may enter as soloists or in groups.  Students outside Lamorinda can participate in the group categories, provided that at least one group member meets the residential requirements.

    Winners of the 2026 Solo Performance are: K-2nd Grade: Savanna Lewis; 3rd-5th Grade: Ellie Smith; 6th-8th Grade: Mariana Miranda; and 9th-12th Grade: Palig Horoupian. 

    Group winners are K-5th Grade: Elemental (Emma Jilizian, Erin Koh, Ellie Smith, Luca Varela); 6th-8th Grade: Cadence (Dafne Evans, Miranda Klein, Quinn Pennington, Mackenzie Paige Preisler); and 9th-12th Grade: Incinco (Lila Graham, Avery Mains, Violet Ross, Ainsley Branstetter, Schuyler Rafferty.)
    The Audience Award went to Vedica Rajaraman for her rendition of “Listen.”

    Winners’ performance videos will be added to the Lamorinda Arts Council website and will be viewable at https://lamorindaarts.org/idol-past-winners/.