The Principal Of Singing With The Pops

Here's one of those stories that'll put a smile on your face:

Frances Botelho-Hoeg of Kingston, principal of Duval Elementary School in Whitman, won Friday's POPSearch competition and will sing with the Boston Pops Orchestra at the annual Fourth of July concert on the Esplanade.

"For the first time in my life, I'm speechless," said Botelho-Hoeg, who was one of three finalists who performed Friday with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.

The performance capped a series that began earlier this month when three semifinalists were chosen.

The three had competed on separate nights and won their respective groups.

The audiences, band and conductor Keith Lockhart all had votes in the semifinal round.

The mother of Friday night's grand prize winner, Beatrice Botelho of Rockland, said her daughter was very nervous before her performance.

"She said the competitors are so wonderful, 'I don't know how they're going to pick one,'" Botelho said.

But after hearing Botelho-Hoeg's rendition of "When You're Good to Mama," one of the judges, entertainment reporter Sara Edwards said, "You were very good to us."

The winner is expected to perform before an estimated crowd of 500,000 on the Fourth of July on the Esplanade in Boston. The PopsSearch 2005 winner is also expected to tour this summer with the Boston Pops for concerts in Philadelphia, Penn., and Washington, D.C.

Hoeg, 55, is principal of Duval Elementary School in Whitman and serves as the elected moderator in Kingston where she has lived for nearly 20 years with her husband Walter.

She won a spot in the semifinal with her rendition of "Send in the Clowns."

Singing for one's supper with the Boston Pops. We couldn't think of a better way to spend the summer! ----------------------Get entry guidelines to next Wednesday's Carnival Of Education right here.

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