United Way of Garland County will present the third annual Garland County's Got Talent show at 7 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium at Hot Springs High School. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
Top talent from each of the county's high schools will compete with one another to determine whose performance will win the largest scholarship prize for their school. Entertainer Roger Scott, a host of "The Buzz" and a graduate of Hot Springs High School, will emcee this year's event.
The talent competition rotates from school to school; the contest was held at Fountain Lake School District in 2015 and at Lakeside High School in 2014. This year's competition will be an all vocal music event, but with plenty of contrast in styles and presentation. The event is part of Arts in the Park, a 10-day celebration of the arts in Hot Springs.
Last year's winner, Amy Arego of Lake Hamilton High School, will offer two songs in an exhibition performance. The winner of the multi-jurisdiction talent show, which was held on Tuesday at First Step, will also perform their winning number.
Representing Hot Springs High School is vocalist Zandora Chinwah; representing Jessieville High School with a vocal performance is Ben Carey, who has advanced to the second audition stage for both the "American Idol" and "The Voice" television programs;
representing the Arkansas School for Math, Sciences, and the Arts is Kason Brewington, an accomplished stage performer;
representing Cutter Morning Star is 16-year-old Lannah Herron;
representing Fountain Lake School is Kristen Brown, a choir member who has represented Garland County in 4-H vocal performance competitions; and
representing Lakeside High School is T.J. McDaniel and his cousin, Jacob Slayton, who will perform an original rap song.
The first prize is $1,500 in scholarship money, awarded to the school represented by the winner. The second place scholarship prize is $1,000, and the third prize is $500. Scholarship sponsors this year are The Morris Foundation, Entergy and Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union, with additional support from Wheeler Printing and the United Way of Garland County Board of Directors.
Garland County's Got Talent is the "brainchild" of Terry Wallace, a member of the United Way's executive board, the release said. Michelle Watts is the show's stage manager. Blues in the Schools will entertain audience members while the judges are tallying their votes. Judges include Dick Antoine, Shirley Chauvin-Miller, Amy Hale, Dona Pettey and Stanley Barnes.
Tickets are $10 at the door and $1 for students.
Visit http://www.garlandcountygottalent.com or email [email protected] for more information.
Entertainment on 04/28/2016