Was it the music of Rossini, Puccini or Bellini that grabbed the attention of “Italian Idol” judges? Ultimately, it was an opera piece by Catalani that took the contest, a 21-year tradition at Wagner College thanks to the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation. The performance showdown took place on Oct. 25 by some of the most accomplished music and theater students on the Grymes Hill campus.

In alphabetical order, competitors who sang in front of a full house included Selina Amargo, Abigail Bernesky, Sydney Cox, Victoria Dimino, Destiny Elias, Willow Fallon, Cailin Kiefski, Miriam Lupu, Gianna Marini, Marc Mundsinger, Molly Nemirow, Cassandra Nieves, Giulianna Paradiso, Anthony Romano, Joey Savage, Jade Iris Schoenfeld and Daniel Manuel Torres.