Ledford, McBride take home top prizes in Calhoun’s Got Talent finale
And then there were two. On Saturday, Aug. 5, a field of 10 talented contestants, which had been whittled down from 17 contestants the previous week, were left for the finale of Calhoun’s Got Talent at the Harris Arts Center. A panel of three judges, along with the audience, had to choose from the wide variety of performers which included Heather MayfieldAdcock, Aaron Blake, Hunter Green, Bri Hall, Darby Jones, Ryleigh Ledford, Adrian Lyles, Mercedes McBride, Holly Thomas and Brianna Towers.
The set- up for this year’s Calhoun’s Got Talent was different from years past: two different awards were handed out; the People’s Choice Award, tallied from audience votes, and the Judges’ Award, handed out by the three judges.
The show’s director, Joshua Lawrence, lamented several times during the night over the tough choice the judges and audience would have in choosing the winners. “The talent is amazing,” Lawrence told the audience.
After the 10 performances, votes were tallied during intermission while vocalist and instrumentalist, Madison Hunt; pianist and singer, Joseph Taylor; Care Pastor at Rock Bridge Community Church, vocalist and instrumentalist, Stephen Hare; and Lawrence entertained the crowd.
Before the winners were announced, the contestants took the stage one last time with Lawrence to perform “Don’t Stop Believin’” together.
In the end, Ryleigh Ledford was awarded the Judges’ Award, along with $ 750 in prize money, and Mercedes McBride won the People’s Choice Award, and was also awarded $ 750 in prize money.
Ledford wowed the judges with her A capella rendition of “Black Bird,” while McBride brought down the house with the gospel song “Break Every Chain.”
Calhoun’s Got Talent was generously sponsored this year by M & S Logistics, NorthSide Bank, Billie Jean Erwin, Tommy White’s Paint & Body Shop, House Office Products, Teresa Bailey, and Kyle and Vivian Smith.