The second annual Pawling’s Got Talent show was presented August 20th. Hosted by the Pawling Library Foundation to benefit the library, the event showcased local talent of all ages.
Co-producers Joan Roberts and Deborah Keesler organized 25 acts ranging from a seven-year old hip hop dancer to a vocal quartet aptly named “The Hot Flashes.”
In the end, there were three winners in each division. In the Junior Division, nine-year old Maryrose Canevari won first place with her rendition of “Home” from the Broadway show Beauty and the Beast. Second place went to Lindsay Arnold for singing her version of “Make You Feel My Love.” Courtney Osborne and Angela Hill tap danced their way into third place to the song “Let Yourself Go.”
There were twelve entrants in the Senior Division. Live.Love.Die, a rock band featuring lead singer Kelci Guzzo, Casey K., Kurt Flood, Brian Gerard, and Jeff Boalt on drums, rocked into first place with “Sid & Nancy.” Second place went to Chris Barberesi for his vocal rendition of “Hallelujah” by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. The third place winner was Pam DeHuff singing “Your Daddy’s Son” from the musical Ragtime.
The evening was MC’d by Pawling’s own stand-up comedian, Jeff Arnold. Jeff kept the show going through technical difficulties and sound issues, entertaining the audience with snippets of humor aimed at the judges and contestants.
The panel of judges included CNN News Correspondent Soledad O’Brien; the director of the Pawling Free Library, Scott Jarzombek; Pawling Public Radio Vice-Chair Mike Shustak; and Stacy Dumont, the Drama Director/teacher at Pawling High School.
First place winners from each division will have their names added to a perpetual plaque which will hang in the Pawling Public Library. All of the winners will also have the opportunity to record a song and/or be interviewed on Pawling Public Radio.
Additional photos will follow soon……….