With a breathtaking backdrop of magical lights and backed by a full orchestra, ISDenver alum Isabelle Valot took the stage at the French television talent show, Prodiges, and sang her exquisite rendition of Your Love from Morricone, so impressing the three judges that at night’s end, she was announced the winner! 

Isabelle, now age 17, who grew up in Denver before moving to France with her family, started school here at ISDenver in the French program when she was four years old. Her first teacher was current K3 French teacher Dominique Shortridge, who is still very close to the family. Isabelle’s younger brother, Alexandre, was also a student here. ECE Assistant Principal and French program head Christele Turner also remembers Isabelle fondly, and says all the teachers remember both students well.

Isabelle’s parents, who along with her brother were seen standing just backstage as Isabelle gave her winning performance, had this to say:

"We’re convinced that the kind attention Isabelle received from the educators and staff of ISD in her early years played a huge part in cultivating the genuine, generous, gentle personality that made her performances connect so deeply with the audience. ISD was and continues to be a joyful foundation for Isabelle and her brother Alexandre. We know that’s no coincidence, and that it comes from constant effort and care on the part of the ISD educators, administrators and staff, and we’re ever grateful for that."

First prize for Isabelle is 10,000 Euros. Through joyful tears after being crowned the winner, Isabelle kept saying how happy and thankful she was that she won! She said it was the best experience of her life and she will hold it forever in her heart. She also said she can pay for her vocal classes herself now and has found new independence because of it. Wanting to become an opera singer, the young winner is already working on her first album on the theme “young love”, which describes her relationship with classical music and song. During an interview with TV Magazine, Isabelle explained that she holds this passion for singing from her grandfather, who died in 2018. She states “Singing gives me this power to bring me closer to him.”

Prodiges, now in its seventh season, is the newest talent show on the French market. It modernises classical music and looks for a new classical superstar among the categories of dance, singing and instruments.  It was during an exceptional evening in early December that the jury decided upon Isabelle among the final 9 contestants. Each year, the Prodiges jury is made up of 3 artists, each representing one of the disciplines in which the candidates compete. For season 7, the jury welcomed a new juror for the singing category, soprano Julie Fuchs. The jury also included choreographer and principal dancer Marie-Claude Pietragalla and the cellist Gautier Capuçon.

Congratulations Isabelle! You can watch her spellbinding finale performance here:

Additional news:

https://www.archyde.com/who-is-isabelle-valot-winner-of-season-7/

Isabelle's story/journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-ibS5dX8SA