Former Glen Cover Sees Success on 'American Idol'

Out of thousands who auditioned for Fox's reality TV competition "American Idol" this season, former Glen Cove resident Bryce Larsen was one of the lucky ones to get a ticket to Hollywood. 

After auditioning in Boston, where 7,000 people sang their hearts out for the chance of a lifetime, judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres gave Larsen the green light to compete in Los Angeles. 

Larsen said he was able to garner a yes vote from all four judges after singing his rendition of "Kiss From a Rose" by Seal and "Sugar, We're Goin Down" by Fall Out Boy. 

"The judges kept saying they wanted to see what I would do in the next round," said Larsen, who now lives in Greenvale. "They said they liked my voice and then they put me through to Hollywood."

In Hollywood, Larsen explained, the competition level turns up several notches from the first round because there are thousands of multi-talented vocalists competing for fewer spots on the show. He called the experience both "nerve-wracking and exciting." 

 "I was never hungry in Hollywood, I guess it was the nervous excitement," he recalled. "I wasn't worried that my life would be over if I was sent home, but I was excited to have the opportunity."

Larsen made it to the group round, but was cut after that and put on a plane back home to New York. 

"I was told by a lot of people that I have to go back next year," he said. "I'm still deciding." 

And although he was eliminated from the competition, he stressed that auditioning on the show was a worthwhile experience because he was able to learn from music industry professionals.

"Even at the first audition at the stadium in Boston, the people listening are the higher ups at the labels and executive directors and their opinions matter," he said. "When you are growing as an artist, that is criticism worth hearing and it is free."

Larsen, 26, has been singing his entire life. He began taking his craft seriously about six years ago when he joined a band called Stealing Jane. He eventually started taking vocal lessons in New York City, with hopes of becoming a professional singer. He even transferred colleges and changed his major to become a more proficient singer.

When he started college in 2001, he was studying biomedical engineering at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Within two years, he said, he transferred to C.W. Post in Brookville to study music.

"I love the way music can move someone," he said. "From the listener, to the beginner to the experienced player, I've seen someone's eyes light up the first time they play a G-chord on the guitar. I've seen great master players live and work with music and I've seen people listening where the music sucks them in. It's such a gift."

Larsen now spends two months performing along the Tri-State area, and then he spends a month on the road hitting different stages and networking with industry people. He usually performs covers and original tunes.

"I'm not one of those who ponders," he explained. "I'm inspired by misheard lyrics, books, movies, stories and things that I have heard."

And his goal is simple: he wants to become a professional singer in the near future.

"I am working towards being able to make music for a living and have a happy life doing that," he said. "I don't need to be famous."

For more information about Bryce Larsen, visit BryceLarsenMusic.com.