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Howell youths will perform at upcoming Monmouth County Fair BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer Justin and Alina of Howell are siblings who don't play together the same way that most siblings do. While other children might play Monopoly and video games, playing together for the Justin and Alina means making music. Justin and Alina have performed at such venues as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, at the Prudential Center, in Atlantic City, in Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center in New York, at Disney World in Florida, and on "TRL" on MTV with Rock & Roll Chorus, an a cappella group led by Joe Cantaffa, a teacher at Howell High School. Justin also sings with Rebel Yell, an a cappella group for students at Howell High School, also conducted by Cantaffa. Justin and Alina have performed at Big Joe Henry's talent showcase in Point Pleasant and at Toms RiverFest. They have also worked with recording artist Brenda K. Starr. Sibling Rivalry currently has an original reality series with Kidzbop that airs online at Kidzbop.com, as well as on the local Comcast on Demand network. To view their segments directly, visit www.kidzbop.com/ sibling-rivalry. "A friend told us about a contest on Kidzbop.com," Justin explained. "We entered a video but it was too late. After a few months, one of the producers called us and wanted us to create an original Web series, along with four others that were chosen. We have five episodes so far and two more on the way. Episodes focus on how it is being in a brother and sister band, school projects, shows/concerts, etc. The next episode to be featured will be about the Jersey Shore and its artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi and The Nerds. The episode usually ends with a song that we try to tie in with the topic of the show. Kidzbop.com provides a fan-wall, so we can get feedback from our viewers, and communicate with them." "Justin's fourth-grade choir teacher, Mrs. Mori at the Land O' Pines School in Howell, told us he had a gift," Lisa Zimmerman said. "Before that, I knew he could sing, but I had no idea how well. She recommended a vocal coach, Scott Davis, and Justin began to work with him. He also took guitar lessons with Peter Beckett from Old Bridge and Justin began writing his own songs." In the summer before fifth grade, a local DJ, Dave Kapulsky (aka "Dave the Rave"), heard Justin sing and introduced him to Jim Garcia, the lead singer of The Nerds, a popular area cover band. Garcia was helping his son, Evan, form a band called The Punks and they invited Justin to be the lead singer. The Punks have been performing with The Nerds at outdoor family events for the past five years. In addition to Justin on guitar and vocals, and Evan Garcia, 14, on keyboards and vocals, The Punks are Christian Composto, 16, on drums; Jack Kapulsky, 15, on guitar; and Anthony Casale, 14, on bass. Justin lives in Howell and the other band members reside in Freehold. During a concert in Freehold Borough on July 10, The Nerds invited Alina up on stage to perform "Proud Mary" and she wowed the audience. Jim Garcia said of Justin and Alina, "I think they are a remarkable talent. I've known Justin for so long and I knew he was talented. I've only lately come to hear Alina. Her pipes are fantastic and I think they both have a great future." "We are so grateful to Jim and The Nerds for giving us the opportunity to perform with them," said Justin. "We feel so close to them and it's like we're one big family," Alina added. "They make it easy to perform on stage." "Alina started to whistle in tune at 2 years old, and I knew she had an ear for music," Lisa Zimmerman said. "She could whistle better than she could talk! She wanted to sing and play drums when Justin started singing, so she took lessons, too." Alina also loves to act and recently played Jasmine in Howell Middle School North's production of "Aladdin." "People say Alina sounds like Amy Lee from Evanescence," her mom said. Justin and Alina are working on a demo of four original songs including "Gone From Me," "Affliction," "(Sorry) I Wasn't There" and "It Is God." "All my songs are from discoveries or experiences that I or a person has felt," said Justin. "My biggest influences are Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi." Justin and Alina's parents work as a team to support them. Lisa acts as their agent and Darrell is the roadie and films their shows. "We are very proud of our kids," Lisa said. "They have been blessed with a gift. They have such confidence and a love for what they do, and they are so willing to give back by performing at benefits and charity events to help others. They are also a part of a Christian youth group called Life Teen, and they are involved with the music ministry at Saint Veronica's Church in Howell." "You can find them most Sundays playing and singing at their 5 p.m. Sunday Mass," added Darrell. "The music is always uplifting and inspirational at that Mass. Having them be a part of that really makes us proud of them. It's something they enjoy doing all on their own." Sibling Rivalry will perform at 9 p.m. July 24 in the 4-H tent at the Monmouth County Fair in Freehold Township. C.J. Marsini, 13, of Middletown, will join them on keyboards, along with his brother, Ryan Marsini, 16, on bass, and Mikey Rosen, 13, of Manalapan, on drums. All three have impressive performing histories, with C.J. and Ryan having television credits under their belts including commercials and television shows. C.J. was on Kraft cheese commercials and television shows and Ryan was a regular on the ABC daytime soap opera "One Life to Live," and has made appearances in other TV shows. Mikey, who has been playing the drums since he was old enough to hold the sticks, is in several other bands and recently won the title of Rock Idol in the drum category for his age group in the Rock'n Music Academy's Rock Idol competition held in Middletown. Evan Garcia will be making a guest appearance as well. The Monmouth County Fair will be held at the East Freehold Park Showgrounds on Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, from July 23-27. Justin and Alina will also perform on their own in the fair's talent showcase slated for 7-8:30 p.m. July 24 and 1-2:30 p.m. July 26. Justin and Alina will be performing again with The Nerds and The Punks at 6 p.m. July 17 at Pier Village in Long Branch and at 6:30 p.m. July 23 at John F. Johnson Jr. Memorial Park on Kierych Drive, Jackson. The duo will also perform at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Big Joe Jersey Talent Show Contest at Jenkinson's, Point Pleasant Beach. For more information on Sibling Rivalry, visit www.myspace.com/siblingrivalryz.