Marysville’s best perform at talent show

MARYSVILLE — The Marysville Strawberry Festival Talent Show packed 30 competitors into the Marysville-Pilchuck High School auditorium June 18, as singers, instrumentalists and other performers from ages 3-73 showed an audience of close to 300 what they could do.

“We have new talent every year,” said Marcy Giesler, who’s been directing the Talent Show for the past 12 years. “This year, we have dancers, violinists, pianists, guitarists and people with original choreography and original songs. We have a family band of six, from ages 7 on up to mom and dad.”

Aimee Brotten, 7, won first place in the ages 3-7 vocal and dance category, for her acrobatic ribbon dance set to “Victory,” while Kennedy Elsner, Mila Olason, Danielle McCollum, Alexa Henkel and Sadie Barczyszyn, ages 6-7, took first in the ages 6-9 dance category, for their ribbon dance set to “Duel.” Ashley Hawkins, 11, received first place for the ages 10-11 vocal, dance and instrumental category, for her lyrical dance set to “Dancing,” and in the ages 11-13 vocal and dance category, 11-year-old Serafina Balderas was awarded first place for her hip-hop dance set to “Fergalicious.”

In the ages 13-14 vocal category, 14-year-old Mandy Henrichsen won first for singing “The Girl in 14G,” while in the ages 8-17 dance group category, first place was won by Laura Martin, Samantha Hall, Elizabeth Brown, Chloe O’Loughlin, Kimberlee Kipperberg, Elizabeth Baca, Michelle and Maria De Matteo, and Megan, Maya and Erica Manzano, for their jazz dance of “Steam Heat.” Kalei Riggin, 16, took first place in the ages 14-16 vocal category for singing “Bye Bye Blackbird,” and Andrew Payne, 16, received first place in the ages 16-20 vocal, dance and instrumental category, for playing the electric guitar portion of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

The Ferguson family, a.k.a. “The Low-Budget Band,” were awarded first place in the adult vocal and band category for playing “Let It Be.” As for 8-year-old Kennedy Miller, not only did she win the ages 8-9 vocal category, for singing “Tomorrow,” but she was also named the Talent Show overall winner.

“I feel excited and shocked,” Miller said. “I didn’t know I was going to get anything. I was just here to have a fun time.”

Miller spent the past year and a half practicing, and enjoys singing “Tomorrow” because she can hit its high notes and “I can really express my voice.”

Although she was informed that she’d be appearing in the Strawberry Festival Grand Parade, Miller seemed even more excited by her prize basket, which included an inflatable pool.

“I’ve wanted to get a pool for three or four years, but I’ve never been able to get one, because it’s been so cold in the summer,” Miller said. “This year, it’s hot in the summer, so, perfect timing.”

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