“Spotlight on Talent” held its 41st annual talent competition on March 16 showcasing some of Central Florida’s best young performing artists.
The prestigious competition featured over 120 students aged 6 to 18 giving performances as singers, dancers and instrumentalists, and offering contestants the option to compete as solo performers, as part of a group, or both.
For many, it was their first time performing at a professional venue with a full audience and expert judges. The event is attended by over 600 people each year, and took place at the Wesley Chapel Center for the Arts, located on the Wesley Chapel High School campus.
Pianist Kasey Lang won the $1,000 Pasco Heritage Scholarship which is awarded to the Pasco County graduating senior who receives the highest combined score from the auditions and finals, after she placed first in Category 3 of the Evening Show.
Barbara Friedman, who served as the executive producer and publicity chair, shared with us more detail about the event.
The annual production is orchestrated by the non-profit Heritage Arts Center Association. A dedicated 15-member Board of Directors spent three months planning the event, with an additional 15 community volunteers contributing to the final production.
Friedman was supported by Assistant Producers Lauretta Brown, Michelle Twitmyer, and Laurel Weightman. The event received support from 30 corporate and community sponsors.
The night was skillfully emceed by Ben Alexander and the performances were dedicated to the memory of Linda LaFayette and Vickie West, two members of the Heritage Arts Board of Directors who recently passed away.
Here is the full list of winners:
Matinee Show (younger students and groups)
Category 1
1st – Amber Luu – Piano
2nd – Rhys Ricardo – Vocal
3rd – Adelynn Erickson – Jazz Dance
4th – Addie Pereira – Piano
Category 2
1st – Savanna Nelson – Ballet Dance
2nd – Naomi Reed – Piano
3rd – Kaiya Bistany-Charles – Vocal
4th – Adina Polley – Vocal
5th – Annabelle DePolis – Vocal
6th – Chloe Adams – Lyrical/Ballet Dance
Category 3
1st – Tenley Ryman – Contemporary Dance
2nd – Fiona Lin Blackburn – Piano
3rd – Caitlyn Siers – Contemporary Ballet
4th – Nikki Lang – Piano
5th – Gabriella Reto – Vocal
Younger Groups
1st – Libertango Trio – Violins and Piano
Evening Show (older students and groups)
Category 1
1st – Makenna Henry – Dance
2nd – Paul McGill – Piano
3rd – Maelee Scaglione – Contemporary Dance
4th – Autumn Hawkins – Dance
5th – Isabel Geskey – Ballet Dance
6th – Elyana Coriano – Vocal
Category 2
1st – Abigail Wallace – Contemporary Dance
2nd – Katie Young – Vocal
3rd – Conway Theel – Piano
4th – Anna Hutchinson – Jazz Dance
5th – Huy Duong – Piano
Category 3
1st – Kasey Lang – Piano
2nd – Ylenia Giannini – Ballet Dance
3rd – Jasmine Crew – Contemporary Dance
4th – Larkin Mainwaring – Vocal
5th – Ashlyn Masson – Vocal
Older Groups
1st – Star Company – Acrobatic Dance
2nd – AIM Stars I – Musical Theater
3rd – AIM Stars B – Acting Comedy
Pasco Heritage Scholarship Winner
Kasey Lang
