Image courtesy of ABC/Eric McCandless and 'American Idol'
Berklee College of Music student Grace Kinstler won third place on last night's finale of ABC's
American Idol. A fan favorite over the course of this season, Kinstler left both judges and audience members in awe of her stage presence and powerful voice. A native of Crystal Lake, Illinois, she is majoring in songwriting at Berklee. Her third-place finish marks the highest any Berklee-trained artist has ever placed on
American Idol.
“It has been a joy to watch Grace perform every week on
American Idol," said Berklee President Roger H. Brown. "As an artist, she brought power and originality to each song in a way that’s been seen only a handful of times on the show’s stage. Her vulnerability, poise, and ability to perform under the toughest of circumstances will stay with me for a long time—Grace, you’ve represented Berklee beautifully during this time, and we are so proud of you.”