Staff Writer
Area youth proved once again that “Kounty Kids Got Talent,” as 14 of them stepped onto the stage at the Caribou Performing Arts Center, performing their talents to a large audience. Hosted by the Caribou Children’s Discovery Museum, with sponsors from area businesses and museum supporters, this was the second Kounty Kids Got Talent event.
The Caribou Children’s Discovery Museum volunteers and board of directors hope the facility, which is to be located at 82 Glenn Street, will become a reality by 2010.
Nancy Chandler, president of the board of directors informed the audience that last summer 240 informational packages were sent out to possible supporters of the museum and eight grants had been applied for equaling $70,000. Aside from the applied grants, funds from the first “Kounty Kids Got Talent” event, a chocolate festival and donations from the Caribou Rotary and the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department, another $50,000 in support has been realized. The
Prior to the beginning of the November 23, event Chandler announced that the board of directors had received word that TD BankNorth had contributed a $10,000 grant donation to the museum and the Class of 1988 at Caribou High School had donated $500. Chandler also noted that $3,000 had been realized from the ads placed in the Kounty Kids Got Talent booklet.
When the lights went down and the curtains opened Jordan Buckley, winner of last years’ Kounty Kids Got Talent and the current 2008 Miss Pre-Teen Presque Isle warmed up the audience by singing “Concrete Angel.
Contestants in the age 10 and under included: three-year-old Renee LaPointe of Van Buren singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,”; Noelle Bailey, 10 years-old from Fort Fairfield who sang “Amazing Grace,”; ten-year-old Caribou singer Kelsey Kiehn singing “Turn Up the Music,”; Mayce Kinney, an eight-year-old dancer from Presque Isle and ten-year-old Justice Flannery, a violinist who played “Ode de Joy.” Also competing in the age 10 and under group were Eric Webb, an eight-year-old singer from Houlton who sang “Our God is an Awesome God,”; and Connor sisters Rachel and Jessica Soucy singing, “When Christmas Comes to Town”.
Displaying their impressive talents within the age 11-16 category were: The Four Strings, comprised of Emma Duplissie-Cyr, Kristin Macek, Elyse Kiehn and Regan Buck. The violinists, all students at Caribou Middle School. Also Hannah Chapla of Hodgon, age 12, who sang, “Everyday,”; The Treble Clef Club of Presque Isle made up of Austin Albert, Aubrie Gross, Madison Shaw and Brenden Goulet performed a jazz selection; 12-year-old Indya Ouellette of Madawaska, who sang “In the Arms of an Angel,”; Woodland’s 11-year-old trumpet player, Rebecca Lynn Page playing “Summer Days,”; 15-year-old Kristy Learnard of Van Buren who performed a self choreographed dance and Caribou’s Alyson Michaud, 15, who sang ,”Some Hearts.”
Winners of the second annual Kounty Kids Got Talent were in the age 10 and under group, Noelle Bailey and Kristy Learnard in the second age group.
Winners were determined by the audience, who casts their ballots at the end of each division.
In a format similar to the popular,” American Idol,” program, judges, Tim Hobbs, Erin Buck and Robert Helstrom spoke with each of the contestants following their performances, noting strengths and weaknesses in their performances, always encouraging perseverance and sharing their own personal experiences. The judges did not vote during the event.
Hosts for the afternoon talent show were Kim and Jason Parent.
Special guest performances included Danielle Lane, Kellie Moody, Janice LaPointe and Kim Parent.
