It was standing room only in the Tryon Theatre on Monday and Tuesday nights for the inaugural Polk’s Got Talent preliminary rounds. The talent was truly local, as at least one member of each act was required to live in Polk County.
Twenty-four acts shared their talents with hundreds of audience members over the two-night preliminary event. The final round will be held at Polk County High School (PCHS) on Monday, Feb. 27.
Seven acts from the junior division and six from the open division will advance to the finals.
Advancing to the next round in the junior division are:
• Cassie Couch and Mollie Nelson, elaborative dancers, 17 and 16 years old
• Daniel Macias and Talia Petoia, singers, 15 and 16 years old
• Keileigh McMurray and Lauren Stratman, singers, 13 years old
• Ki’Yon Staley, singer, 9 years old
• Madison Yellen, clogger, 10 years old
• Meredith Gillespie and Brianna Richardson, tap dancers, 11 years old
• Mia Brown, singer, 14 years old
Advancing in the open division are the following:
• 2 Folks from County Polk (celtic band)
• Blues Underground (blues band)
• The Foxchasers (bluegrass band)
• Project X (rock band)
• Noah Stockdale, singer
• Madison Alexander, Cole Pellatt and Cade Underwood, singing trio
Polk’s Got Talent was organized by the Patrons for Performing Arts at PCHS to help fund a trip to Festival Disney – an international competition for high school choruses. Vocal Impressions, PCHS’s competition choir, plans to attend the event in April.
The event was planned by parent members of the patrons group. Members of Vocal Impressions served as emcees and as the technical crew, among other tasks. Sponsors, in addition to Tryon Theatre, are Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital, Computer Direct Outlet, Freer Equine Mobile Veterinary Services and Millard & Company.
The local “celebrity” judges (Aaron Greene, Brook Hannon and Susie Kocher) gave advice to each act at the conclusion of each performance. The preliminary rounds were scored using a combination of audience votes and judges’ votes.
In the finals, however, the audience votes will take the lead. Each finalist has been asked to remind family and friends of the importance of the arts in the schools and to encourage their attendance, along with their votes, on Monday night.
Tickets will be available at the door of the PCHS auditorium. The competition begins at 7 p.m.
– article submitted
by Mimi Alexander