West County’s Got Talent shows off star students
About 500 parents, family and friends filled the high school gymnasium at West County on a recent Friday night to watch this year’s edition of West County’s Got Talent.
The students participating in the talent show sang, played instruments and showed off gymnastic skills for the audience. And while the talented students of West County waited for the final results, they were entertained by other talented groups, including the middle school seventh and eighth grade choir, the high school swing choir and jazz band. Claddagh Irish Dance Studio also performed a few routines during Friday night’s show.
Racheal Carlyon is a senior at West County. She performed an acro gymnastic solo during the talent show.
“It’s a little bit of hand balancing so I will have a prop,” said Carlyon before the event. “It’s a solo that I performed last year with my dance competition team. I had to refresh to remember the solo, but I’m really excited to perform since it’s my last year.”
Carlyon says she has been performing in West County’s Got Talent since she was in the third grade. She was very eager to finish out the year strong with her performance.
Dustin Gore is a junior in high school. He performed along with two friends, “The Lord Our God,” at the talent show.
“I’m very excited because this is a chance for me to spread the Gospel throughout our school,” said Gore. “I think it’s really important to try and put Jesus in the schools.”
This was Gore’s third year playing in the talent show. He started playing his freshman year.
Senior Taylor Dowd was also one of the many students to perform Friday night on stage. She sang Gretchen Wilson’s hit “When I Think About Cheating.”
“I’ve done this a lot more than just this year, but still every year it’s going to make you feel anxious to do it,” said Dowd. “It’s just really exciting.”
Dowd said some of the highlights besides getting to perform herself is getting to see the other kids from lower grades get on stage and perform.
The talent show had three divisions, one for each school. The audience voted for the winners and a team of teachers tabulated the results. First prize was $50, second was $40 and third was $30.
Elementary winners were first place — Layni Barnes singing and playing on the piano “Try;” second place, Sydney Cash performing “Amazing Grace” on her violin, and third place, Katelyn Herrera who performed a dance routine to “A Thousand Years.”
Middle school winners were first place —Brianna Dill, singing “Name On A Wall;” second place — Arizona LaMarche, who sang “All this time;” and third place went to Juanita Guerrero, Garret Halter and Megan Perkins for their comedy act “Jelly fish sandwich.”
In the high school divisions, winners were first place —Dustin Gore, Breanna Henson and Michaela Williams, who sang and performed “The Lord Our God;” second place Racheal Carlyon, who performed a dance routine to “Requiem;” and third place — Dalton Brooks, Zach Deason and Josh Fitzwater, all three were in a band and performed “Shepherd of Fire.”
“The talent show is really cool because it involves the entire district so it makes it really fun because a lot of times the schools don’t get to do things as a whole district from elementary on up to 12th grade,” said Ryan Hassell, middle and high school choir teacher. “It’s fun for those little kids to get up on the stage and sing and get to see the big kids perform as well.”
Proceeds from the evening benefit West County Middle School student activities and other school and community-related programs.
In 2014, Brianna Dill earns first place in the middle school division of West County’s Got Talent. Helped with acoustic rhythm she sang, “Name On A Wall.”
Racheal Carlyon, senior, comes in second place in the high school division at this year’s West County’s Got Talent which was held Friday night at the high school gymnasium. She performed an acro gymnastic solo “Requiem.”
Korey Johnson is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3616 or Kjohnson@dailyjournalonline.com
