Event raises funds for PCHS choral group
Television has its popular “American Idol,” “America’s Got Talent” and “Dancing With the Stars” – all competitions to identify talent. This year,

Polk County has launched “Polk’s Got Talent,” a local talent competition that will raise funds for the Polk County High School (PCHS) Vocal Impressions, a choral group and competition team.
The event is enrolling individuals and groups now for the contest, with the sign-up deadline Feb. 10. Competitors can sign up online at www.patronsforperformingarts.com or by calling the registration coordinator at 828-894-2627. All competitors must be paid in full to participate.  Organizers encourage competitors to get sponsors to help them cover entry fees.
Right now talented individuals and groups are signing up for the competition in two categories:  Junior (up to 18 years of age) and Open (confident of your talent against any age group). Entry fees vary depending on the category and the number of people in the group. Serious inquiries only will be considered; no inappropriate acts will be accepted.
Individuals, duos or groups will compete against one another for first, second and third place awards in their entry group, either Junior or Open. The first place award for the Juniors category is $200, second place is $75 and third place is $25. In the open category, the first place award is $500, second place is $250 and third place is $75.
The first round of competition will be Feb. 20-21 from 6-9 p.m. at the Tryon Movie Theatre. Talent advancing to the finals will compete on Feb. 27 from 7-10 p.m. at the Polk County High School Performing Arts Auditorium. Audience member’s ticket prices will vary for age groups and rounds.
“We wanted to provide a platform for our students, friends, and neighbors to showcase their talents while raising money for the very worthy cause of music education,” says Patrons for the Performing Arts president Bibi Freer. “We also wanted to plan an event that would attract the best talent in Polk County and we think we have hit the mark with this ambitious, but highly entertaining idea.”
Last year, the Vocal Impressions group attended Festival Disney in Orlando and individuals raised their own funds to travel. This year, the group and parents will work to support the costs of the Festival Disney trip by performing several fundraisers in addition to Polk’s Got Talent, including product sales, individual and business sponsorships and “singing telegrams” performed by Vocal Impressions members for holiday or personal messages. The Disney trip is scheduled over spring break in April.
Pictured above: Aaron Greene will serve as one of the judges for Polk’s Got Talent. Recent Polk County High School students and graduates know about many of Aaron Greene’s talents. He can beat box (providing a verbal, rhythmic beat to rap-type music). He can do cartwheels, he does impressions and he claims he makes a “mean scalded lettuce.” And he can say the Pledge of Allegiance with tongue-twisting speed.
Greene holds degrees from Appalachian State University and UNC-Charlotte and was the principal at Polk County High School until he was promoted last summer to serve as the district director of curriculum and instruction for Polk County Schools.
– article submitted by Mimi Alexander and Carol Lynn Jackson