AVONDALE, Arizona – The Spanish word for “star” is “Estrella.” Hopefully the stars will be aligned for Emilio Roman, an Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) student, to become the nation’s winner of Estrella TV’s “Tengo Talento Mucho Talento,” a national Spanish talent competition similar to “America’s Got Talent.”
Roman impressed the judges during the September auditions and subsequent elimination rounds, leading him to the quarter-finals. Now in the semi-finals, the success of his performances will be based on TV audience voting.
Perhaps it is a positive sign that Roman, a graduate of Estrella High School in Avondale, and currently attending Estrella Mountain, is now trying to become a star on Estrella TV, based and broadcast out of Los Angeles (LA), California.
He leaves for LA on Nov. 18 for rehearsals and taping of the show, which begins airing on Estrella TV on Nov. 21. The finals will be on Nov. 26.
Even though the competition has required Roman to travel to LA several times since September, Roman is still doing well in his college classes and focused on his goal of receiving his associate degree from EMCC in May 2015.
“It is important to me to graduate from Estrella Mountain,” said Roman. “Not just for me, but for my family.”
Roman, who started singing in church at the age of three, and has recorded two Spanish Christian CD’s, is ready to try and achieve his dream of becoming a professional singer in the world of contemporary music. Some of his favorite English artists are Bruno Mars, Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga and Freddie Mercury. Some of his Spanish influences are Juan Gabriel, Vincente Fernandez, Antonio Aguilar and Shakira.
His mother, who does not agree with his choice of singing secular songs, and wanted him to become a pastor, is trying hard to understand and support his vision.
“Music has always been my passion,” said Roman. “Even though I love and honor my mother, my dream has always been to become a professional artist and sing all over the world.”
Editor’s Note: Estrella TV is not available on subscription networks, but can be accessed digitally on KVPA-LD, UHF Channel 42, through antenna and online. “Tengo Talento Mucho Talento” airs Monday through Friday at 8:00 p.m., M.S.T.