GRAVENHURST - From the crisp belt of voice to the thunder of drums, from the gentle flutter of dancing feet to poignant prose, Muskoka youth shone in the Gravenhurst Opera House’s limelight.
The famed and historical stage hosted some 20 competitors in the sixth annual Gravenhurst Rotary-sponsored Youth Talent Contest on May 9, leaving the panel of five judges the toughest task of the evening in choosing the top prize winner.
Rotary member Brian Ferguson said the annual event is an incredible opportunity for young people to show off their skills and talents, no matter what that may be.
“Rotary is just so proud to sponsor events like this for young people,” he said with a huge smile. “This (the youth talent contest) is certainly one of the biggest highlights for us in the year and one of the really happy times to be a Rotarian.”
A total of $1,500 was up for grabs for the top eight performers, including $500 for the first-place winner. Judges were treated to an array of talents, from singers, songwriters and musical performers to dancers and poets.
When all was said and done, it was Huntsville’s Dan Murphy who walked off the winner. He used the power of his chameleon voice with humorous impressions through song and jokes.
The gracious winner was surprised he rose to the top from the 20 youths, ages 13 to 21.
“Everyone here blew me away; the amount of talent in this room was outstanding,” said Murphy, a student at Huntsville High School.
Judy Vanderveer, the town’s director of recreation programming, who partners with Rotary to put on the annual show said the sixth annual event held true to its purpose of fostering young talents and providing youth a chance to shine.
“They come here without tryouts and no time to rehearse; they essentially show up at the door and perform, and yet, this is the incredible level of talent we saw,” she said.
Along with the first-place performance by Murphy, Bracebridge’s Isaac Boyes earned second, singing an original piece; Mark Doucette, Huntsville, third for singing; pianist Gregory Gibson, Huntsville, fourth; Alec and Gregory Gibson of Huntsville, fifth, piano and violin duet; sixth was a jazz band from Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School featuring Naomi Higgins, Kiam Prymak, Kris Finley and Ian Goodyear; Huntsville’s Summer Willett earned sixth with her original song; and eighth went to the duet of Gregory Gibson and Murphy.