It’s Talent time again
How very blessed I am to have my dedicated daughter, Amy Podgurski Gough, once more at the helm of our only fundraiser, Washington’s Got Talent. Amy will produce our sixth annual finale at Trinity High School at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. The talent show is the perfect fundraiser for our Outreach; not only do young people create the program and coordinate it as the Washington Health System Foundation’s SHO Committee (Students Helping Others), but youth are the force behind the event. Young people are involved in our auditions, and 17 talented young people will compete at the finale. Over 200 teens will volunteer that evening. Young people will bake beautiful and tasty desserts for the Cupcake Wars, and teens will serve as MCs, stage managers, stage crew and mascots for each finalist.
Traditionally, I dedicate the columns before Washington’s Got Talent to our finalists. In 2015, our 15 finalist acts will compete for three monetary prizes ($1,000 and $500 for first- and second-place winners, and $500 for Fan Favorite). The first and second prizes are determined by our returning 2014 panel of judges (celebrity judge Adam Brock, Rep. Brandon Neuman, Four Townsmen singer John Marcischak and teacher/counselor Katrina Thomas). Fan Favorite is won through audience voting.
Ten countywide auditions brought us a unique roster of contestants. Our finalists hail from Avella High School, Bentworth High School, Bethlehem-Center High School, California High School, Canon-McMillan High School, Chartiers-Houston Middle and High School, Fort Cherry High School, Peters Township High School, Trinity Middle and High School, and Washington Junior and High School.
In alphabetical order, our finalists are: Rachel Bedillion (12th grade, Avella School District), Julia Bodnar (10th grade, California School District), Tamairra Bunge and Hailey Duncan (ninth grade, Washington School District), Isabel Descutner (12th grade, Fort Cherry School District), Anthony D’Orazio and Jonathan Florian (11th grade, Trinity School District), Jacob Fonner (12th grade, Washington School District), Donte Gregg (ninth grade, Chartiers-Houston School District), Brianna King (12th grade, Canon-McMillan School District), Michael Lucas (11th grade, Washington School District), Katie Nemec (seventh grade, Fort Cherry School District), Jakob Nyswaner (11th grade, Bethlehem-Center School District), Sage Sneith (seventh grade, Bentworth School District), J Webb (11th grade, Chartiers-Houston School District), Zoe Wise (eighth grade, Trinity School District) and Gabby Zacharia (11th grade, Peters Township School District).
Every year our contestants share a little of their hearts by responding to the following three questions: 1. Please tell us why you enjoy performing; 2. What does performing in Washington’s Got Talent mean to you? and 3. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I’ve divided their responses; five appear below, and the remainder will be in next week’s column.
Rachel Bedillion – 1. I enjoy performing because it’s such an adrenaline rush. And I love to make people happy with my singing. 2. It means a lot to perform in front of a bunch of people and sharing my talent. 3. The future has a lot to hold, and I hope my talent will help me go far in life.
Julia Bodnar – 1. I enjoy performing because it gives me an opportunity to showcase my talent, especially when I am performing with friends. 2. Washington’s Got Talent allows me to do what I love while supporting a great cause. 3. In 10 years I hope to be teaching and inspiring young dancers for a living.
Tamairra Bunge – 1. I enjoy performing because I love to show people my talent. I can really open up and express myself when I sing, and no matter what I sing I love to show who I am. 2. Performing in Washington’s Got Talent means so much to me. I get to be surrounded by people I love and make new friends, while I show my talent. Who could ask for more! 3. In 10 years I see myself as a licensed veterinarian while doing some creative writing. I will be in the process of having my own veterinary practice in the future and opening up a no-kill animal shelter.
Isabel Descutner – 1. I enjoy performing because it allows me to totally immerse myself in what I love and be able to share that with the world. 2. Washington’s Got Talent really means closing out my high school career. I performed in WGT my seventh-grade year, so being able to come back as a senior is really amazing. It’s incredible to come back and see everything that has changed, and really help out Teen Outreach. 3. I don’t know where I’ll be in 10 years, but I do know I’ll be busy trying to find a way to mix singing, dancing, acting, composing, sound editing, playing piano, recording and filming into one single profession. It probably won’t be possible, but I’m optimistic.
Hailey Duncan – 1. I enjoy performing because I have always loved to sing since I was little. I sing anywhere and everywhere. 2. I tried out three times and it’s awesome that I got in with one of my friends. 3. In 10 years I see myself performing a lot and in front of a lot of people. If my singing career doesn’t work, then I want to do acting or be an investigator.
Please join us for a night of fun and entertainment. Doors open at 5 p.m. Arrive early to enjoy a spaghetti dinner (courtesy of Angelo’s Restaurant and Ameron Beverages). Four Star Pizza will provide food during intermission. You can vote for Fan Favorite and buy tickets at http://www.washingtonsgottalent.com/.