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