5/22/2009
GARY DEMUTH
Salina’s got talent — only they’re from McPherson.
A McPherson brother and sister singing duo were chosen winners of the first Salina’s Got Talent competition Thursday at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, 151 S. Santa Fe.
Michael Holman, 20, a sophomore at McPherson College, and his sister Alyson, 23, a recent McPherson College graduate, were awarded first-place honors for their rendition of the Celine Dion-Andrea Bocelli duet “The Prayer.”
The siblings won a $300 cash prize, plus the opportunity to be the opening act at the Smoky Hill River Festival Festival Jam June 11 at Oakdale Park.
Second place was given to Salinan Nick LaMarca, who sang an original tune and accompanied himself on electric guitar. He won $100. Third place and $50 went to Salinan Taylor Kline, who sang and played acoustic guitar to a song by the rock band Oasis.
Judges for the competition were Michael Spicer, executive director of Salina Community Theatre; artist and photographer Carolyn Wedel; Loren Banninger, a teacher at Salina South High School and bassist for the local band The Blades; and Rob Northcutt, singer/songwriter for the country band Northcutt.


For more on Thursday's talent show, read reporter Gary Demuth's story in Saturday's Salina Journal.