I read the news today, oh boy

Warwick student is once again a finalist in John Lennon songwriting contest WARWICK — It’s the second time that Clarissa Cupero, the daughter of James and Lynn Cupero of Warwick, has been recognized as one of three finalists in the Spanish category of the International “John Lennon Songwriting Contest.” Cupero graduated from Warwick Valley High School in 2008, where she served as president of the Meistersingers choir. She is now a senior, majoring in Spanish, at Siena, a Catholic and Franciscan College, located in Loudonville, just outside Albany. In 2009 Cupero wrote and recorded her first contest submission, “La Sombra,” which recently made the first-round Grammy ballot for Record of the Year in addition to her song, “I’ve Got Your Number” for Best Female Pop Vocalist. Cupero’s latest contest entry “Voces” (“Voices”), reflects the perspective of an outsider looking in on the struggles and suffering that still exists in Latin America. English to Spanish crossover “It’s a song about the people and their life, losing loved ones and hanging onto faith to remain strong,” she said. Top artists, record label executives and singer-songwriters, will judge the John Lennon Contest. The winners in each category will be announced next May. “To be a finalist twice for another Latin song,” she said, “proves to me that my goals of becoming the first English to Spanish crossover are becoming closer to a reality. I have a passion for Latin and Spanish music and for what’s going on in the Latin world.” Cupero also recently returned from four months of study in Sevilla, Spain. “I was definitely inspired by the culture of Sevilla through flamenco and their passion for music,” she said. “The sounds of Sevilla are reflected in one of the tracks, “Ole!” on my four-track EP that will be soon released digitally on iTunes.”