6/11/2009

By JOEL ASCHBRENNER

Salina Journal

Before going on stage in the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts last month, Alyson Holman noticed the other acts performing from the middle of the stage. She turned to her brother and duet partner, Michael, and said, "We're going to go out to the front of the stage. We're going to go up there, and we're not going to be afraid of the audience."

Her tactics paid off as the audience gave the McPherson siblings a 45-second standing ovation, and the judges selected the pair the winners of the first ever "Salina's Got Talent" for their performance of the song "The Prayer."

"They almost wouldn't stop clapping," Michael said. "Forty-five seconds of pure clapping -- that's a really long time when you are just standing on stage."

Alyson said she was not expecting the ovation.

"That took us completely by surprise," she said.

The win earned the duo the right to perform at tonight's Festival Jam, the official opening of the annual Smoky Hill River Festival.

The 24th annual Festival Jam will begin at 5:45 p.m. on Eric Stein Stage in Oakdale Park with the second- and third-place performers from "Salina's Got Talent -- Taylor Kline and Nick LaMarca. The Holmans will take the stage to perform "The Prayer" at about 6 p.m.

After the Salina's Got Talent winners perform, 16 bands will take the stage for about 15 minutes each. An all-star band composed of musicians from several of the bands will close the show at about 10 p.m.

Steve Hanson, the show's organizer and owner of SM Hanson Music, said that every year he books bands from different genres so everyone at the jam can find something to enjoy. This year he has booked rock, folk, funk, country, hip-hop, alternative and horn bands.

"The saying around the Festival Jam is, 'If you don't like the band, wait 12 minutes; there'll be another one up there,'" Hanson said.

Hanson said he expects to see more than 10,000 people in the audience Thursday if the weather is fair.

Michael said he and his sister have never been to the river festival or the Festival Jam, and they have never performed for a crowd of more than about 1,000.

"I have absolutely no idea what to expect," he said. "That will probably be our biggest gig."

Alyson, 23, and Michael, 21, grew up singing and playing instruments in school and church in McPherson. Both performed in the choir and in theater at McPherson College, where Michael is a junior and Alyson graduated in 2008.

Both chose to study English at McPherson College, and both said they want to make a career out of writing.

"But music is what we do for fun," Alyson said.

Their mother, Karen Holman, who is a violinist in the Salina Symphony, started her children's music careers early. Each started playing the violin at the age of 4, then started music theater and voice lessons several years later. Michael now plays violin, clarinet, saxophone and french horn.

Michael said he and his sister have similar styles and like to sing a variety of genres, including Broadway pieces, classical, jazz and contemporary.

"We strive to be as versatile as we can," he said. "I would hope there is nothing we can't sing"

The siblings have performed in McPherson Community Theater productions since they were teenagers, including shows such as "Meet Me in St. Louis," "Sound of Music," "Annie," "Annie Get Your Gun," and "Bye Bye Birdie." The pair are currently rehearsing for "My Fair Lady," which will debut June 26 in Greer Auditorium at Central Christian College in McPherson.

Alyson said the two jumped at the chance to perform in the historic Stiefel Theatre after they heard about the competition from their grandmother, who lives in Salina.

But after coping with the pressure of the competition, Alyson said she is looking forward to performing in a more casual atmosphere at the Festival Jam, even if it doesn't result in another standing ovation.

"I hope this will be a little more relaxed," she said.

nReporter Joel Aschbrenner can be reached at 823-6464, ext. 149 or by e-mail at jaschbrenner@salina.com.

Festival Jam Lineup

5:45 p.m. -- Taylor Kline, Nick LaMarca

6 p.m. -- Alyson and Michael Holman

6:15 p.m. Sons of Truckers, funk/rock

6:30 p.m. Run of the Mill, southern rock

6:45 p.m. The BackSeat Drivers, rock

7 p.m. The Emily Judson Band, folk/contemporary

7:15 p.m. Imminent Domain, punk/rock

7:30 p.m. Bill Burrows with Pipe Creek, country/bluegrass

7:45 p.m. The Liquid Kids, alternative

8 p.m. Cash Hollistah, hip-hop

8:15 p.m. Northcutt, modern country

8:30 p.m. Neely, modern rock

8:45 p.m. Soul Preachers, rock

9 p.m. Split Decision, country/rock

9:15 p.m. Last National Band, classics & oldies

9:30 p.m. Steve Hanson & Company, classic rock

9:45 p.m. The Blades, horn band