Kinsley S. Ard Memorial Talent Show

Last Friday, March 28, 2014, the 6th Annual Kinsley S. Ard Memorial Talent show was held at Milton J. Weinberg Theater, Weirton High, Weirton, WV. Our daughter's piano teacher encouraged our daughter to join the said talent show. Our daughter has never joined any talent show, since she only started taking lessons in January 2013. We gave it a try and sent her application. There was a sign up fee of $15 for every participant.  Prior to the competition, we told our daughter that it  is okay if she don't win, the most important part is  she will get to experience it.

This event was  spearheaded by the Parent Group of the Weir Middle School  in honor of a late student, Kinsley Savannah Ard who died years ago.  

Our daughter was anxious going to this talent show because she did not have any experience but we told her to just enjoy it.  I must admit that I was more  nervous than her lol.  There were three judges and there were three categories Elementary (K-4), Middle School (5-8), and High School (9-12).  Daughter was on the first category.  

She competed  against 10 other acts in Elementary  category. Four of them  played piano, some sung songs, and other danced.  Two winners were piano players and one was a broadway singer.  No dance acts won.  

There  was an entrance fee of $5 for adults and $3 for kids.  There were also raffle prizes during the duration of the show.  They sold tickets  inside the  theatre.  The proceeds  of this event goes to the Weir Middle School.  I am glad that my daughter  have participated  and  became a big part of this good cause.  I think that the event was a huge success, lots of people came to watch which  means that  lots of fund was collected.  

They gave out $675 worth of cash prize to the  winners:

• 1st  place's prize is $100
•  2nd Place's Prize is $75
•  3rd place  received $50 each.

When the head judge   explained the mechanics, she said that the  crowd  will serve as the  4th judge.  Hubby and I looked at each other and said "Well, her chance of winning is very slim because  we  don't know anyone in there" lol.  Our daughter was the underdog so when they announced that she won the first prize, we were actually shocked.

Each contestant  was judged according to  quality of performance, presentation, length of act (2 minutes) and over all impression.  

I think what helped our daughter was the fact that she played without  music sheet and that she confidently played her piece.  When she played the crowd was very silent.  I wasn't sure if they were drawn to her  act or they just did not dig her performance.  But I guess, she captured the audience as she got applauded after her act.

It was nerve wracking when they  were announcing the winner.  When they call the 3rd and 2nd place winners, hubby and I thought that our daughter won't place at all so just imagine  what we felt when  the judge announced that she won the first place, I was like  yohoooo.  

So yeah, she was so thrilled.  This is her first experience and she finished  with victory.  Look how overjoyed  her face is lol.

Of course, the whole family has to share to her  victory so we took a  family picture with victorious smile, wink.  Sorry if my post may sound like too much bragging but I can't contain my happiness inside, I have to share it!  This win will help  boost her confidence to  the next level.

Here is her piece that I recorded.  I missed the first part because I had to switch my camera from  taking photo to video recording.    She was going to play Beethoven's Fur Elise but decided to play The Hunters as suggested by her Piano  teacher.  

I hope you enjoy watching.