- December 23, 2024
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From Nirvana to Debussy, from “Matilda” to dance, the Spotlight on Flagler Youth Talent Show drew cheers from the audience May 26, at the Flagler Auditorium, hosted by the Flagler County Youth Center.
Alyssa Pimentel, 12th grade, won first place in the senior division for her performance of “Nuit d’etoiles,” by Claude Debussy. To perfect her routine, Pimentel said she kept to a rigorous practice schedule. She also studied what the words meant.
“It’s a song about remembering someone you’ve lost,” she said. When performing it, “I think about people I love but have moved away or moved on to other things.”
Jim Poole finished third in the senior division, with Elizaveta Guseva second.
K’imani McCoy drew the loudest cheers of the night for her rendition of “I Have Nothing,” by Whitney Houston. It was a challenging song, but it was an easy choice for McCoy.
“I’ve known that song since I was 2,” she said. “It’s always been my go-to for karaoke.”
With her performance, McCoy won the middle school division for the second year in a row.
Sophia Paige was third in middle, with Mark Lopat in second for middle.
Annabelle Kocher, fifth grade, won the elementary division, for her performance of “Naughty,” from “Matilda,” the musical. She also starred in the full musical for Children’s Musical Theater, in Ormond Beach, according to her father, Chris Kocher.
Bianca Wright finished third in the elementary division, with Anniston Goetsch second.
The show was emceed by Caleb Monroe and Olivia Slaughter, with judges David Alfin, Palm Coast mayor; Christy Butler, of Take Stock in Children; Melanie DiMartino, former Miss Matanzas; and Cheryl Massaro, chair of the Flagler County School Board.
Joshua Walker, Flagler Schools’ coordinator of community services said the show gives a stage to students who study their craft as well as to those who do it mostly for fun as a hobby.
“It’s an all-inclusive environment,” he said.