White Plains Performing Arts Center held its inaugural “Westchester’s Best Singer” competition over the weekend and pinned the honors on Caitlin Krueger and Taylor Clay. (Taylor’s on the left, Caitlin on the right.)

Krueger, who won the adult category, is 25 and was born in Sleepy Hollow and raised in Cortlandt Manor. She graduated from Mercy College with honors and is finishing her masters degree at The John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. She lives in New Rochelle and is an account executive at Westchester Weddings Magazine and the exclusive vocalist with the DJ Company, A List Entertainment.

Her prize includes singing the national anthem at White Plains New Year’s Eve Spectacular, three voice lessons at the Music Conservatory of Westchester, professional headshots from Bob Fine Photography and a gift certificate from Simon Malls (The Westchester or Galleria).

The youth winner is Taylor Clay, 12, an 8th-grader at Highlands Middle School in White Plains. Taylor began her theatrical training at age 6 at the Westchester Conservatory of Music. She has been featured in numerous musicals, most recently “The Wiz” and “Seussical,” and has sung at Carnegie Hall.

The competition was open to county residents in two categories: kids 10-16 and adults 17+. Judges were Lauren Cregor, professional singer/songwriter; Thomas Jamerson, vocal faculty at Music Conservatory of Westchester and Jack W. Batman, executive producer of White Plains Performing Arts Center.

The winners will receive the following:
Her prizes include an appearance in the WPPAC holiday production of “Oliver!” three voice lessons at the Music Conservatory of Westchester, professional headshots from Bob Fine Photography, and a gift certificate from Simon Malls.

WPPAC plans other “best” competitions — Westchester’s Best Dancer in January and Westchester’s Best Comic in May or June.

White Plains Performing Arts Center is located on the third level of City Center at the corner of Main and Mamaroneck in downtown White Plains.