Everything’s Better on Orcas—Especially the Talent!

Orcas Has Talent! Mentors (top) Gene Niery, Susan Osborn, and Bob Shipstad.
Host Julia Bailey.
Third Place Winner Maddie Jane West; Matia Schwartz; Destiny Wright.
Second Place Winner Stormy Hildreth; Standing Ovation members Jessie Nichols, Tori & Violet Sturk.

By Lin McNulty

It was the girls’ afternoon to be onstage and shine as the performers in Orcas Has Talent, Jr. Division thrilled the audience with delightful music skills.

The fun-packed Orcas Has Talent, Jr. competition is open to youths in grades five to eight. First, Second, and Third Place acts were chosen, with the First Place winner receiving a $50 cash prize and given the choice to either perform for the Finale Show on Feb. 9 at the Orcas Center OR to compete against the adults for the grand prize of $500!

Host Julia Bailey joyfully moved the event along as she introduced the performers and kept them at ease while the panel of mentors—Gene Nery, Susan Osborn, and Bob Shipstad—offered each act comments and encouragement.

“Song” was definitely the word of the day, with Matia Schwartz crooning the opening number. Maddie Jane West accompanied herself on the guitar, singing a piece she composed herself. A trio composed of Jessie Nichols and sisters Tori and Violet Sturk, Standing Ovation presented a fun piece. Stormy Hildreth, as she did last year, sang from her soul. Destiny Wright sparkled like the star on her shirt.

First-place winners, the M&Ms, featuring Camryn Thompson, Sabrina Bailey, and Paris Wilson.

The enthusiastic M&Ms closed off the performance with a song and dance routine, which they choreographed themselves.

In the end, the panel mentors pronounced the song/dance team M&Ms as winners. As such, they have the option of actually competing in the upcoming adult event, or merely performing. Without hesitation, the group chose to compete.

Second Place went to Stormy Hildreth, with Maddie Jane West coming in Third.

Because the M&Ms chose to compete, Second Place Stormy Hildreth will then perform in the upcoming Adult Event at Orcas Center. All other participants from the Junior Event will also perform a group piece on stage at Orcas Center Finale. General admission tickets for the Feb. 9 Orcas Has Talent Finale will be on sale at Darvill’s Bookstore starting Jan. 21.

Orcas Has Talent is sponsored as a fundraiser for Orcas Island Prevention Coalition. The talent competition is in its sixth year. The organization has raised over $800,000 since its inception in 1999.

The overriding message to these talented performers, both from the mentors, as well as friends and family in the audience, is to keep singing, and most important of all, have fun doing it!