Arcadia’s second annual Arcadian Idol competition brought students together to sing and perform in front of peers and staff judges on March 26 in the Commons Great Room. Ainsley Eidam ’27 and Gianna Scarpa ’27, who partnered to perform “For Good” from “Wicked,” took home the $500 grand prize and the opportunity to perform at Arcadia’s annual music festival, Woodstock, on April 18.

“I’m in shock,” Scarpa said. “I really did not expect us to win with all of the amazing talent here tonight. When they called us, we were insanely surprised.”

“Our commitment was to the bit, not to the win,” Eidam added. “We thought singing would just be a fun thing for us to do together. Actually winning was just such a crazy, surreal moment.”

Last year, Eidam competed solo, but brought in Scarpa this year for support.

“It’s easier to get up in front of everyone with Gianna than it is to do it alone,” Eidam added. “It’s like a bonus hangout in front of a bunch of people. We were roommates, so we thought ‘For Good’ would be a cute tribute to us and our friendship. There were so many other incredible performers tonight that it was just unreal to have been called up for first place.”

Neither Eidam nor Scarpa is a stranger to performing; Eidam is a member of the Cabaret Club, where she performed “Gethsemane” from “Jesus Christ Superstar” in the fall, and Scarpa is often chosen to perform the National Anthem at her hometown’s events.

“I sing for the love of the game,” Scarpa said. “But this time, I was thrilled to be getting to do it with Ainsley.”

Nearly twenty students performed at this year’s Arcadian Idol, varying from original songs to covers, ukuleles, and electric guitars. The rest of the 2026 competitors were:

“It’s one of the best activities we do all year,” said Assistant Vice President for the Student Experience Christine Storch, who served as one of the five judges for the competition. “It does a lot for the community, and we think this campus is very unique in the way they root each other on, so we decided to do it again and make it even bigger this time. Getting up on that stage is one of the bravest things that you can do. I just think it’s amazing that people put themselves out there.”

Looking ahead to their Woodstock debut, Scarpa and Eidam are ready to jump into their next performances together.

“I think that what you can expect from us is something really fun,” Eidam said. “Something exciting, with probably a lot of queer undertones, and notes of fabulousness and glitter. We’re so beyond excited to be doing this.”