Community Corner
18 Year Old Wins $500 in 'Moving' Beach Talent Competition
Talented performers from throughout the state wowed this year's judges. Winners included residents from Hudson, Rochester, Merrimack, Manchester, and Portland, Maine.
By John Kane
Hampton Beach has talent, and it was proven again Sunday night when the semi-finalists of the 2013 Hampton Beach Talent Competition took the stage for the finals in the junior (up to age 18) and senior (over 18) divisions for its 9th consecutive year.
The winner of the Senior Division was Samantha Migneault from Hudson, NH. She performed a moving rendition of Christina Aguilera's "Hurt." Sam, as she is known, is an 18-year old graduate from Alvirne High School and will be attending the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford in the fall. She won a $500 cash prize. Second place went to Peg Johnson from Rochester, NH who sang a dynamic rendition of "At Last," by Etta James. She took home a $300 cash prize. Third place and a cash prize of $200 went to Denise Therrien from Manchester, NH who performed a spunky version of Nat King Cole's "Orange Colored Sky."
In the Junior Division, first place went to 12-year old Liam Swift from Portland, ME with the song, "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars. His grandfather Bill McKinley came from Houston, TX to support him, along with his parents, Sheila McKinley and Doug Swift, and a group of strangers that heard him playing piano in a hotel at the beach and returned to see him perform at the talent show. Second place went to Kaihla Laurent from Chicopee, MA. The 14-year old performed "Taking Chances" by Celine Dion. The third place winner was 10-year old Kayleigh MacFarland from Merrimack, NH. She took third place with a performance of "Part of Your World" from the Little Mermaid.
The competitors performed first in the semi-finals, which were held on Friday night, August 23 for the Junior Division and Saturday, August 24 for the Senior Division. The winners then went to the Finals.
The judges were Cathy Pepin, former clerk of the Hampton Beach Village District, Hampton BeachPrecinct Commissioner Maureen Buckley, Julie Leonard from the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce and special "celebrity" judge, Mike Livingston from the group the Continentals, who are well-known regular performers at the Hampton Beach Sea Shell Stage.
"Contestants are judged not only on their vocal ability, but also on their stage presence, audience response and overall entertainment value," said Glen French, competition organizer and show host.
The Finals show, which was sponsored by the Hampton Beach Village District, started at 7 p.m. on the Seashell Stage at Hampton Beach State Park and featured 2 dozen competitors. It wrapped up at 10 p.m.
For more information, visit www.hamptonbeach.org or visit their Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/HamptonNHBeach for photos and videos of the winning performers.
Hampton Beach has talent, and it was proven again Sunday night when the semi-finalists of the 2013 Hampton Beach Talent Competition took the stage for the finals in the junior (up to age 18) and senior (over 18) divisions for its 9th consecutive year.
The winner of the Senior Division was Samantha Migneault from Hudson, NH. She performed a moving rendition of Christina Aguilera's "Hurt." Sam, as she is known, is an 18-year old graduate from Alvirne High School and will be attending the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford in the fall. She won a $500 cash prize. Second place went to Peg Johnson from Rochester, NH who sang a dynamic rendition of "At Last," by Etta James. She took home a $300 cash prize. Third place and a cash prize of $200 went to Denise Therrien from Manchester, NH who performed a spunky version of Nat King Cole's "Orange Colored Sky."
In the Junior Division, first place went to 12-year old Liam Swift from Portland, ME with the song, "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars. His grandfather Bill McKinley came from Houston, TX to support him, along with his parents, Sheila McKinley and Doug Swift, and a group of strangers that heard him playing piano in a hotel at the beach and returned to see him perform at the talent show. Second place went to Kaihla Laurent from Chicopee, MA. The 14-year old performed "Taking Chances" by Celine Dion. The third place winner was 10-year old Kayleigh MacFarland from Merrimack, NH. She took third place with a performance of "Part of Your World" from the Little Mermaid.
The competitors performed first in the semi-finals, which were held on Friday night, August 23 for the Junior Division and Saturday, August 24 for the Senior Division. The winners then went to the Finals.
The judges were Cathy Pepin, former clerk of the Hampton Beach Village District, Hampton BeachPrecinct Commissioner Maureen Buckley, Julie Leonard from the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce and special "celebrity" judge, Mike Livingston from the group the Continentals, who are well-known regular performers at the Hampton Beach Sea Shell Stage.
"Contestants are judged not only on their vocal ability, but also on their stage presence, audience response and overall entertainment value," said Glen French, competition organizer and show host.
The Finals show, which was sponsored by the Hampton Beach Village District, started at 7 p.m. on the Seashell Stage at Hampton Beach State Park and featured 2 dozen competitors. It wrapped up at 10 p.m.
For more information, visit www.hamptonbeach.org or visit their Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/HamptonNHBeach for photos and videos of the winning performers.
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