SHAMOKIN - Outstanding teen and adult talent took center stage Saturday night at the second annual "Anthracite Idol" sponsored by the Lower Anthracite Regional Recreation Committee (LARRC).
Amazing, fantastic and inspirational were some of the adjectives used by the four judges in describing the 21 musical performances and one stand-up comedy routine during the two-hour performance at Northumberland County Career and Technology Center.
This year's expanded show raised money for the recreation committee formed in 2010 to benefit youth recreation in the Coal Township-Shamokin community and surrounding areas. The amount raised was not available Saturday night.
Last year's show raised $3,000 to help LARRC coordinate recreational improvements after Northumberland County donated 5.9 acres of land in the western end of Coal Township. LARRC is continuing its work on constructing soccer fields for AYSO games, a playground and baseball field at the site.
Singers, guitar players and pianists presented emotional, sentimental and energized performances while displaying great confidence.
Nine teens and 13 adults presented acts.
George Zalar, a sixth-grade student at Shamokin Area, opened the program by playing the "Tomahawk Chop" on the french horn, while Ted Yost closed the show by singing "Bad Case of Loving You."
Besides Zalar, other teen performances were given by sisters Mary and Haley Scopelliti (Popular), Mackenzie Brouse and guitarist Ricky Murphy (Teenage Love Song with Brouse's lyrics), Cole Supsic (last year's top prize winner) and Natasha Hornberger (Drive By), Cheyenne Popewczak (Stay Strong with Popewczak's lyrics), Rebecca Barnes (We're Young and Beautiful), Jess Pachuski (singing an original tune while playing piano), Richard Brown (Crazy Love), and Katie Augustitus (Turning Tables).
In addition to Yost, other adult acts included Matt Heins (stand-up comedy routine), Cindy Ziolko (I'm The Only One), Jessica Decastro (Perhaps Love), Ricky Murphy (Pictures of the Past), Brittany Bowers (Before He Cheats), Victor Kocur (Keeper of the Stars), Dean Reigel (Drinking My Baby Good Bye), Frank Ziolko (Coward of the County), Mark Sosnoskie (My Sweet Carolina), Bobby Diamond (Clementine), Ray Bowers (I Am I Said), and Brad Reigel (I'm The Highway).
As the votes were being collected, vocalists "Michi," Tim Breon, Colin Beatty and Todd Egger gave a special performance. The winners were then announced.
Just like on "American Idol," the audience picked the winners. Each person who paid admission received one ticket to vote for their favorite act. To stuff the ballot box a little bit, an additional three votes could be purchased for $5.
Meagan Baumgartner served as talent organizer for the show. Master of ceremonies was Ned Sdorick. Judges were Marla Kane, who wowed the crowd at last year's event with her group, "Marla and the Juniper St. Band," Kathy Jeremiah, grants manager for Northumberland County Planning Department and project coordinator for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, Mount Carmel Mayor J. Kevin Jones, and News-Item staff writer Rob Wheary.
The following winners were announced at the end of the show:
Teen category - Cheyenne Popewczak, first place; Cole Supsic and Natasha Hornberger, second place, and Jess Pachuski, third place.
Adult category - Matt Heins, first place; Brad Reigel, second place, and Brittany Bowers, third place.
The first-place winners were awarded $200 each. The second and third-place winners received gift cards.