Ten young vocalists took the stage on Aug. 24 for the KC SuperStar finals, which had a British Invasion music theme.
Presented by The J, the event featured performances, a panel of accomplished judges and a sold-out crowd celebrating music, talent and the Jewish community.
The evening began with a patron party. The live show followed, featuring a production led by The J’s Tammy Ruder. After the performance, participants, family members, J Legacy Society members and VIP donors gathered for an afterparty to celebrate a memorable night.
“This year’s KC SuperStar was an incredible night for showcasing talent,” Ruder said. “We enjoyed guiding the finalists as they became stronger performers as well as teaching them how to embrace both victory and defeat.”
The show featured a mix of group numbers, solos and guest performances. Each finalist selected a song that followed the British Invasion music theme, ranging from artists such as The Beatles to Coldplay.
While the judges narrowed the field of 10 finalists down to four, Broadway star Shoshana Bean, who served as host for the evening, kept the audience engaged with a performance of her own of songs from Broadway hits she has starred in.
After the top four finalists were announced, the decision was turned over to the audience, who voted for the 2025 KC SuperStar using handheld devices. In total, four scholarships were awarded:
First Place and 2025 KC SuperStar ($10,000 scholarship): Rayna Key
Second Place ($5,000 scholarship): Aubree Smith
Third Place ($2,500 scholarship): Matt Brun
Fourth Place ($1,000 scholarship): Devin Fisher
The event was made possible through the leadership of The J’s KC SuperStar Manager Robin Levine; Chief Philanthropy Officer Bailey Nakelsky; and Director of Philanthropy Cindy Bodker. The event’s emcee was Abby Eden and presenting sponsors were Bonnie and Herb Buchbinder, Danielle and Sam Levine and Stifel.
