You have to admire the kids who turned out for the July 1 competition, Sechelt’s Got Talent. There were plenty of other fun activities on Canada Day but 14 students aged nine to 18 took their music seriously enough to perform for a full audience at the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre. You also have to admire the event’s organizer, Nikki Weber, who – at age 90 – is still hosting this amateur talent contest. The judges for this competition were also special – they had journeyed from Powell River to give impartial critique to the competitors.
“We were looking for pure, polished performance on stage,” said judge Walter Martella, “and honest performances, those that engaged audiences.”
They found it conveyed in music that ranged from Bach to Taylor Swift.
Caleb Geue took first place in the category of ages nine through 12, charming the crowd with a Nocturne piano piece and a Christopher Norton tune. Matea Bellavance, 12, took second place with her combination vocals and piano. She also studies guitar and violin. Third place went to Amelia Mellis, 11, who has been playing piano since the age of four and gave the audience a classical piece.
After some impromptu mellow intermission music from professional adult performer Anna Lumiere, the aged 13 to 19 category began their round. First place went to Ashley Hautala, 18, whose stage act is polished and who has already cut a CD. She sang an original tune while accompanying herself on guitar. Pianist Emily Picard, 18, earned second place. The recent Chatelech grad has been studying piano for nine years. Third prize winner Noah Ord, 13, showed his accomplishments on the violin with a Daniel Lapp tune and traditional fiddle music.
Other competitors performed well, but some lacked the stage presence the judges were looking for. Finnian Hastings at age nine gave her first ever public performance and did well despite technical difficulties with the microphone. Ten-year-old Erin Payne is accustomed to playing in public as part of the duo Ginger Snaps and she’s frequently to be seen busking with her sister who unfortunately couldn’t compete because of a broken wrist. The Geue brothers, Brison, 16, and Ethan, 14, showed maturity in their music, while amateur theatre performer Elisabeth Lyle showed her love of singing.
The Sechelt Downtown Business Association contributed some funds towards cash prizes for the winners and Strait Music in Sechelt gave each performer gift certificates.
Martella commented that Weber was a great advocate for students. “Thanks, Nikki!” he said. “We love you.”
