40+ Acts Perform at Talent Show
More than 40 acts took to the stage for the Kiwanis Talent Showcase last Friday in the Jasper County High School auditorium.
In Class C (Grades K-5), Drew Schilling, playing “Turbocatta” on the piano, won first place. Evan Newton, performing with a Chinese yo-yo to “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble,” placed second, and Ella Mercer, singing and playing “Baby Mine” on the piano, won third.
In the middle school division or Class B, a brass quartet composed of Clay Evans, Austin Norwood, Levi Head and Hope Brill, placed first by playing a rendition of the Super Mario Brothers theme song. An ensemble with Sean McCowan, Jacob Bell and Alex Mendoza on drum set, electric guitar and alto saxophone won second place performing the theme to Pink Panther. Anna Parker won third place singing “This is the Stuff.”
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In Class A or the high school division, the first place musical act is invited to attend the State Kiwanis Talent Showcase to compete for up to $3,500 in college scholarships. Bucketheads 4.0, a percussion ensemble of Erica Cline, Wyatt Wilkins, Brian Harper and Kenny Siebe, won first place for a piece entitled “Schooled.” The students used classroom desks as percussion instruments in a crowd favorite. Matthew Frank Lawson placed second by playing guitar and singing “Almost Home.” Quintara Standifer placed third with a liturgical dance to “I Can Only Imagine.”
Les Steele, Kiwanis Talent Showcase chair, said, of the number of acts participating, “I am very happy and proud that we can get that kind of participation in our county.”
In addition, he said, “I am very grateful to the school system, Dr. Newton, Mr. [Eric] Arena, and particularly to Mr. Howard Fore, Jasper County High School’s principal, for the many extra hours he put in and the many ways in which he helped provide what was needed concerning the facilities and helping move my equipment.”
In the high school division of the Art Showcase, artwork was judged in two categories: two-dimensional and three-dimensional.
In the 2D category, Bill Chambers placed first, Brenda Cruz placed second and Quentin Villwock placed third. In the 3D category, Ashley Wall placed first, Carlie Evans placed second and Taylor Edwards placed third. Best in Show was Ashley Wall, who is invited to the state competition on April 28 in Carrollton.
In the primary school division of the art show, Julia Proctor placed first and Elijah Bratcher placed second.
Finally, in the elementary school division of the art show, Chloe Calkins placed first with “Flying Fox,” Ella Mercer placed second with “My Grandma’s Farm,” and Ethan Proctor placed third.
Funds raised at Friday’s event will go to local programs supporting children such as the library, Give Burns the Boot, 4-H, the Jasper County Mentor Program, ML&J Fund, Care Corp. and the schools music programs.
