‘Singing has always been in my veins’. Now, Downey grad will sing on ‘American Idol’
Looks like Modesto audiences will have a hometown girl to root for when “American Idol“ returns this March.
Modesto native Effie Passero (who formerly went by the name Francesca Bavaro while performing around the region) has auditioned for the return of the hit reality singing competition. The Downey High graduate was the 2011 winner of the Gallo Center for the Arts popular Valley Talent Project (then known as Valley’s Got Talent).
In late May 2017 Passero moved to the Los Angeles to pursue her career in music. On Monday the 26-year-old posted a photo on her Facebook and Instagram accounts of her in front of a large sign that said “Idol.” The accompanying text read: “SURPRISE! Guess who auditioned for idol...tune in March 11th to see my fate!!!”
The new season of “American Idol” premieres on ABC March 11. The series ran for 15 seasons on ABC before calling it quits in 2016. But the show has been revived this year with original host Ryan Seacrest and new celebrity judges pop superstar Katy Perry, country hitmaker Luke Bryan and five-time Grammy winner and R&B legend Lionel Richie.
Because the auditions for the show are filmed in advance, unlike the live episodes later in the season, the results from the early rounds are kept tightly under wraps. Passero was contacted by The Bee, but could not comment on her appearance.
A reality TV spoiler blog has leaked an unconfirmed list of the contestants making it to the showcase round this week. On Monday the site, MJS Big Blog, posted the unverified claim that Passero was among the Top 45 contestants, even making it into the Top 10 of the female contestants.
An ABC spokewoman said she could not comment on Passero’s status on “American Idol” at this time.
Passero’s Instagram bio currently reads: “My friends know me as Cheska. But as of March 11th, the world is gonna know me as Effie Passero, American Idol season 1 contestant on ABC.”
The singer-songwriter has a long history of performing in the region. She has been singing and playing piano since she was 5 years old. She performed while a student at Downey in school and local theatrical productions, going under the name Francesca Heyward. From 2004-2005 she made into the finals of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra’s Young Idol vocal contest, which was fashioned after “American Idol.”
She won the Valley Talent Project in 2011 with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” In 2014 she shared the stage with the cast of “Glee” for a fundraiser at the Gallo Center and then the following year she opened for YouTube phenomena 2Cellos.
Passero joins a small handful of locals who have competed on “American Idol” in the past. They include 2002 Beyer High graduate Alexis Lopez, who made it to the semifinalist/wild-card round of the show’s breakout debut season, and former Ripon Christian High School student Maddy Hudson, who made it to the showcase round in 2015.
In a 2015 spotlight profile in The Bee, Passero shared her passion for singing.
“Singing has always been in my veins. It’s a way of communication and a refuge. Singing for me is like breathing, I have to!” she said. “It keeps me going. Being a musician is an amazing thing. Being able to touch people with your music is the most humbling sensation and I wouldn’t trade it in for the world.”
This story was originally published February 6, 2018 at 2:45 PM with the headline "‘Singing has always been in my veins’. Now, Downey grad will sing on ‘American Idol’."