Community Corner
Hot Night, Hot Mics, Hot Talent at Saline Community Fair
Friday's fair event proved once again that Saline's Got Talent!
It was a packed house Friday night, despite the heat, at the Saline Community Fair for the “Saline’s Got Talent” talent competition. Fourteen acts competed for the $100 grand prize, courtesy of Key Bank. Bubba Cowan from W4 Country emceed the event and gave away concert tickets to second and third place winners, as well as the noisiest, attention getters in the audience.
Three judges from the Saline Community Fair Board of Directors settled in to take notes on each act. They were Kevin Ernst, Fred Schaible and Elaine Masters. When asked about the age groups for the contest, Schaible explained the rules.
“All ages will compete against each other,” Schaible said, “just like the real show.”
He was referring to the television show America’s Got Talent, a spin off from the very popular English version in the UK.
“We’re really looking for who presents a good performance, and who energizes the crowd,” Schaible said.
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Alex Jasman was the first to start the show. He’s a junior at Saline High School and member of the show choir Saline Varsity Blues. He sang and played guitar to a very receptive crowd, and admitted entering the show wasn’t really his idea.
“I heard about it two or three weeks ago, but it was a friend of mine who signed me up and said I really should do it,” Jasman said.
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Other acts were the DS Divas dance group, and brother and sister tap dancers Elaine and Joel Height, who tapped against one another. When Bubba asked the younger brother whether or not he’d share the winnings with his big sister, he shook his head “No way!” and got a big laugh from the audience.
Ten-year-old performer Megan Brown kept perfect composure awaiting technical difficulties, then pulled off robust vocals singing “If I Die Young.” Jessie Anne played the saxophone, Jeanette Weidman and Janice Weidman each played keyboard, Angela & Anne sang a duet, and Brent Pace, or Professor P. from A2, rapped for the crowd. Ending the show was nine-year-old singer and guitar player Sara Catrell performing a song she wrote called “My Dream Boy and Me”.
The top placers were all singers. In third place was fourth grader Kyle Emerson who sang a soulful rendition of “House of the Rising Sun”. Emerson had recently taken to the stage during his school talent show in June. Second place went to inspirational vocalist Amanda Kanaley, who had a huge fan club cheering for her, complete with matching tee shirts.
First place and the $100 prize went to fifteen year old Kaitlin Pace, a local voice known throughout the Saline area. She won with a country performance featuring vocals and guitar. Pace appeared to be the most experienced of the competitors, and that was no accident.
“I’ve been singing since I was eight years old,” Pace said, “and I’ve had some vocal training.”
It showed.
If you missed Pace during the talent show, no worries. She is part of the line up of entertainment taking place on the main stage Sunday at the fair as well, and can be seen performing throughout the area and different events.
For a list of Saline Community Fair events, visit the fair's website.
