HE SALVATION ARMY NJ ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF STATEWIDE “STAR SEARCH” MUSIC & CREATIVE ARTS TALENT CONTEST

Montclair Corps takes home a majority of the awards 
More than 200 young people from grade school to high school involved with The Salvation Army NJ Corps Music & Creative Arts programs recently competed in the “Star Search” music & creative arts talent contest. 

Started in the 1990’s to encourage arts and music development for young people, the contest highlights the talents of NJ youth in a huge range of areas: brass solos, guitar solos, vocal solos, monologues, dance solos, drum set solos, piano solos, youth band, youth chorus, drama troupe. Winners of the various categories will go on to compete with other regional Corps in Hershey, PA on Saturday, June 11.  

Most people don’t know that The Salvation Army is the #1 provider of free or reduced cost music and creative arts instruction for students of all ages outside of public schools. After months of practice and perseverance, the most talented performing young artists in the state competed in The Salvation Army’s signature youth event.  

Music Director, Nathan Power, oversees more than a dozen Corps’ music and creative arts programs throughout the state. COVID shut down many student programs, but The Salvation Army NJ continued to offer its in-person and Zoom instruction to give the gift of music, socialization, and in many cases, a meal or snack for children who might otherwise experience hunger.  

The following are the winners/categories from the NJ Corps: 

Montclair 

Micah Hodgson - Drama Monologue 

Elizabeth Davitt - Drama Monologue 

Sarah Knaggs - Drama Monologue 

Jenna DeMichael - Drama Monologue 

Adam Avery - Snare Drum 

Leo Rodriguez - Piano Solo 

Natalie Smith - Brass Solo  

John Ferreira - Brass Solo  

Romina Espinoza - Dance Solo  

Gianmarco Rodriguez - Dance Solo  

Liana Padillo - Dance Solo  

Drama Troupe  

Youth Chorus 

Youth Band 

Englewood 

Elliot Pyo – Acoustic Guitar; Drum Kit; Snare Drum; Vocal Solo 

Borah Kim – Bass Guitar 

Irene Kang – Piano Solo; Brass Solo 

Olivia Im – Piano Solo  

Singing Company 

Kearny 

Bruce Chalco Leon - Acoustic Guitar 

Kenneth Chalco Leon - Acoustic Guitar; Piano Solo 

Evelyn Ovalles - Vocal Solo  

Allison Rouse - Brass Solo Primer 

Orange 

Joey Boyd - Bass Guitar 

Asbury Park 

Jake Lyle - Drum Kit  

Morristown 

Pedro Guillen - Brass Solo 

Daisha Rodriguez - Dance Solo  

Newark Ironbound 

Drama Troupe  

Camden 

Timbrels  

Flemington 

Timbrels  

Red Bank 

Dance Troupe