On Friday, I'll be in Williamsburg doing my best Howard Stern immitation. Or maybe, I'll be mimicking Howie Mandel. The bottom line is that I'll be a judge at this year's Williamsburg's Got Talent competition.
I may not be as edgy as Stern or as bald as Mandel -- two of the judges on NBC's hit show "America's Got Talent" -- but I'll do my best to objectively weigh the talent in this local version. Joining me on the panel of judges will be Kathy Hornsby (wife of Bruce) and Everett Collins, former drummer and vocalist with the Isley Brothers and current music teacher and band director for the Williamsburg-James City County School System.
Here's a look at who's competing:
Ami Baker, guitar/singer/composer
Noelle Barardi – singer
Meghan Cordner – singer
Mariah Denman – Irish Dancer
Havilah Garcia – guitar/singer
Haley Griffith – singer/piano
Eric Horgan – singer/guitar
Morgan Middlebrook – singer
Brian Molloy – singer/performer
Bridget Palermo - singer
Sharon Smith – singer
Melissa Williams – singer
The event, which takes place 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at the Kimball Theatre on Duke of Gloucester Street, is a fundraiser for the Williamsburg Land Conservancy.
Tickets are $35 and $25 for 12 and under and are available through Colonial Williamsburg and can be purchased online at www.colonialwilliamsburg.org, at the Kimball Theater or any Colonial Williamsburg ticket office or by calling 1-800-HISTORY.
Here's the official news release for the competittion:
****************
Twelve Acts to Compete for Top Spots in
Williamsburg’s Got Talent
Williamsburg’s Got Talent, a benefit for the Williamsburg Land Conservancy, will bring a dozen of the most talented people in Williamsburg to the stage of the Kimball Theater on Friday, September 28, at 7:00 p.m. to compete for the top spot. You’ll hear Broadway, blues, classical and a bit of the Irish and more! Auditions were held in August and September, and judges Bobby and Ann Hornsby, Dick Smith and Mark Howell chose the following individuals to perform in the competition:
- Ami Baker
- Noelle Barardi
- Meghan Cordner
- Mariah Denmon
- Havilah Garcia
- Haley Griffith
- Eric Horgan
- Morgan Middlebrook
- Brian Molloy
- Bridget Palermo
- Sharon Smith
- Melissa Williams
This Williamsburg spin on the television phenomenon is sponsored by Chesapeake Bank, Howell Creative Group and The Tide/WYDaily and BACHfm. As a fundraiser for the Conservancy, the dollars raised will help the organization’s efforts to protect and preserve significant natural, scenic, agricultural and historic land in the James and York River watersheds.
Williamsburg’s Got Talent finalists will be working hard to garner the votes of the event’s celebrity judges. They are: Everett Collins, former drummer and vocalist with the Isley Brothers and current music teacher and elementary director of bands for the WJCC School System; Kathy Hornsby, business manager for Bruce Hornsby; and Sam McDonald, Entertainment Editor, The Daily Press.
The judges will narrow the field to their top three choices. These individuals will perform a second time, in hopes of being named for the top spot. Along with the coveted trophy, winners will receive cash prizes, thanks to the generosity of Chesapeake Bank.
Tickets are $35 and $25 for 12 and under and are available through Colonial Williamsburg and can be purchased online at www.colonialwilliamsburg.org, at the Kimball Theater or any Colonial Williamsburg ticket office or by calling 1-800-HISTORY.
*****************