By Carlee Edwards
CarleeE@lstribune.net
The fourth annual Lee’s Summit’s Got Talent premiered Friday night, June 20, 2014 with 20 acts competing for the $5,000 grand prize and the $500 crowd-pleaser reward. The benefit event for Lee’s Summit CARES raised $8,200 to go towards the special programs of LSCARES thanks to all of the wonderful supporters who showed up for the show.
“Each season we are so fortunate to have a very enthusiastic and supportive crowd,” chair of Lee’s Summit’s Got Talent Anne Aubuchon said.
Congratulations to Micah Marrs, Mason Marrs, Joel Mills, and Jordan Mills of the band “State Line Drive” for winning the $5,000 prize for their song “God Bless the Broken Road.” Also congratulations to “The Wizard of Piano” Hyoyin Kang for receiving the $500 Crowd-Pleaser award for her rendition of “Beethoven Moonlight Sonata 3rd Movement.”
“The energy of the audience as well as the performers seems to grow with each season, which is very exciting,” Aubuchon said. “There was a bit more variety this year too, with several talented dance acts rounding out the show.”
A broad range of talent was showcased at the Lee’s Summit High School Performing Arts Center such as dancers Ian Staten and Amelia Ellsworth with a ballroom dance act “Beautiful Tango, Beautiful KC” and James Dickinson with his dance act “Friend Like Me.” There were also several instrumentalists like William Keen, playing “Time” on the guitar or “CNote” Christopher Nickens on the Soprano Saxophone playing “Someone Like You”, vocalists such as Jena Thomas Coffman who sang “The Wizard and I” or Greg Love who sang “Soldier”, and combination acts like Lizzy Cruz who sang “Ain’t No Sunshine” and played guitar or Hillary Talken who sang “Little Sparrow” and played the piano. Along with the contestants there was a performance by last year’s winner Jerome Johnson.
“… the caliber of talent each season seems to get better and better,” Anne Aubuchon explained. “I think we’ll continue to see a high level of talent at auditions next April.”
Special thanks to the Spotlight Sponsors Beacon Press, Cosentino’s Price Chopper, Lamar Advertising, Lee’s Summit Journal, Paradise Park, Saint Luke’s East Hospital and Lewis Living Trust Center.
