Tag Archives: The Valley’s Got Talent

Jared tickles the ivories so well

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I observed Jared Hollingworth from my pew as he sat in his across the aisle. He waited serenely and listened intently to 17 other pianists perform before it was his turn. When it was, he adjusted the ebony and ivory keyboard necktie he was wearing with his white shirt before walking upfront to the grand piano. He proceeded to play a delightful Lorie Line arrangement of “Silent Night.”

Flawlessly!

That was Saturday night, Dec. 15, in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grand Forks, when his piano instructor, Gloria Bethke, presented her students in recital. Two things drew me to this recital. Gloria is my first cousin and she has outstanding students. Plus I wanted to hear Jared again.

The Sunday before (Dec. 9), Jared was No. 16 on the list of contestants who vied for three cash prizes when the Grand Forks Exchange Club held its second annual “The Valley’s Got Talent” in the Empire Arts Center. I was a judge for the first show in December of 2011 and was honored when the Exchange Club asked me back to do it again this year. My judging cohorts were Grand Forks Mayor Michael Brown, Terry Dullum, anchor and producer of WDAZ News @ 5, and Dan Dubuque, an Exchange Club member.

At the Empire Arts Center competition, Jared took third place. I was somewhat disappointed as I felt he should have been No. 1, but then I was only one of three judges.

First place winner at the Empire was singer Michelle Stahlecker, Grand Forks, who interspersed a theatrical performance with her music. Second place winner was Denise Gaber Oxby, a singer from Roseau, Minn.

At the Empire, Jared beautifully mastered an arrangement of “All of Me,” by Jon Schmidt, classical New Age piano player and composer. At times he played probably an entire octave at one time by laying an arm over the keys.

What a delightful resonance that produced.

What also first impressed me about Jared, who is 14 and a freshman at Red River High School, is how poised and well spoken he was when Zach Ahrens, the emcee, interviewed him before he sat down to play. Zach asked Jared if he had any advice for kids who think they might want to quit piano lessons. His advice was to find pieces that are so much fun to play that you wouldn’t ever want to give it up.

Pretty smart concept don’t you think?

At the recital at Immanuel, it was most enjoyable to meet Jared’s parents, David and Michelle Hollingworth, and his sister, Andrea. He has another sister, Karen, and another brother, Todd, who were unable to be there.

I always enjoy meeting new people and it’s most heartwarming to witness the closeness of families. The Hollingworths are excellent examples. Hope I run into them again somewhere down the road and I look forward to the next time I can hear Jared play.

Until Soon

Oh yes – the Valley definitely has talent!

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It was great fun last year and I’m ready for my repeat performance.

The Grand Forks Exchange Club has invited me back as a judge for its second annual “The Valley’s Got Talent” event. Curtain goes up at 2 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 9) in the Empire Arts Center, downtown Grand Forks.

Adjudicating with me last year were Terry Dullum, anchor and producer of WDAZ News @ 5 and Grand Forks Mayor (and physician) Michael Brown. This year we three are back and will be joined by one more judge – Jarrod Thomas, program director for Leighton broadcasting.

“The Valley’s Got Talent,” is brought to us by the Grand Forks Exchange Club whose mission it is to help area children with such needs as warm winter coats, hats and gloves. The club also provides funding for after school programs which many area youngsters thoroughly enjoy.

Betty Feltman, an Exchange Club member, tells me that back in November, 30 talented people auditioned for “The Valley’s Got Talent.” Twenty of them survived the cuts and they are the ones we’ll see Sunday on the Empire stage.

Hailing from such places as Minto and Walhalla in North Dakota, and Crookston, as well as Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, there are singers, dancers, guitarists, piano players. There’s a theatrical performer and even a rapper, all hoping, of course, to take home one of the cash prizes.

Zach Ahrens, Grand Forks Herald advertising director who also is a minister, will emcee the show again this year.

Here’s how you can help: Just come – your admission is simply a freewill donation. You can relax in the beautiful Empire Arts Center while you enjoy some pretty amazing things happening on stage.

Hope to see you Sunday at the Empire.

Until Soon

Here come the judges!

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I’ve got feelings, too, and I’m dittoing Dullum, as in Terry, who says he’ll be hurt if you don’t make it!

Terry Dullum, anchor and producer of WDAZ News @ 5, Grand Forks Mayor (and physician) Michael Brown, and I extend a warm invitation to you to come to the Empire Arts Center in downtown Grand Forks at 2 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 4) for “The Valley’s Got Talent.”

Does the Red River Valley ever have talent! There is so much among us and it’s a beautiful thing when the folks who have it share it. When it’s all been said and done see if you agree with Terry, Michael and me because – we are the judges!

“The Valley’s Got Talent,” is brought to us by the Grand Forks Exchange Club whose mission it is to help area children with such needs as warm winter coats, hats and gloves. The club also provides funding for youngsters so they may take part in after-school programs.

Here’s how you can help: Come – your admission is simply a freewill donation. You can relax in the beautiful Empire Arts Center while you enjoy some pretty awesome talent.

Betty Feltman, a member of Exchange Club, sat in on the auditions which were held Nov. 6 and she was pretty much blown away. Thirty-one people auditioned and 18 made the cut. Those 18 are the ones you’ll see Sunday when they perform on the Empire stage.

There are singers, dancers, pianists, a young man who plays Bach on his electric guitar and a band who calls itself Burning Hollywood. The youngest performer is 10. Collectively they hail from East Grand Forks, Grand Forks, Thief River Falls, Devils Lake and Fargo. Two singing sisters will even compete against one another for one or two of the three cash prizes which total $850.

Zach Ahrens, a newspaper man and minister will emcee the show.

Does this not sound like great fun? Hope to see you there because heaven knows, you don’t want to disappoint the judges. But more importantly, the performers and less fortunate children among us need an encouraging and cheerful giving audience.

Until Sunday and Until Soon