SEPC Idol

5th Annual After School Idol Talent Show is a tremendous success!

44 youth visual artists and 94 youth performers ranging in age from 6-18 years old participated in SEPC's 5th Annual After School Idol Talent Show on Saturday, November 12th at the Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater. For the first time ever the show was completely sold out, and all 600 seats in the theater were filled with cheering audience members! Congratulations to our 2011 Idol winners- the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia's Cambodian Dance Troupe, Caring People Alliance's One Voice Choir and Fleisher Art Memorial's youth visual artist Cailin Brenna.

Thanks to everyone for their support of our Juried Lobby Art Exhibit and Talent Show. Watch out for pictures and videos on our website coming soon!

Please browse the rest of this page as well as read our Idol Stories for more information about the event!

How did the Idol event start? 

The Southeast Philadelphia Collaborative After School Idol Talent Show is an annual event created as part of the Lights on Afterschool, which is celebrated nationwide to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities. Idol began as a small, grassroots event and was held at Edward Bok High School’s auditorium for the first two years.  In 2009, the event was held at the Commonwealth Plaza in the Kimmel Center.  Fifty youth performed for an audience of about 300 people.   In 2010, the event had grown so much in popularity that it was moved into the Perelman Theatre at the Kimmel Center where 350 people attended.

Why a talent show?

The event showcases the talent of youth from SEPC’s network with dancers, singers and instrumentalists enjoying the spotlight.  In the words of one of the youth performers, “last year I was a performer for the idol and was very excited about it because it was my first time performing at the Kimmel Center. My favorite part about the Idol was the crowd, because they gave a lot of energy by cheering and rooting for you.”  It gives Southeast Philadelphia youth a performance outlet.  The event is held annually to showcase their budding talents and give them the recognition that they deserve.

Hear what our performers have to say about the After School Idol Talent Show!