The 33rd annual Cochrane Rotary Youth Talent Festival went off without a hitch.
The event, which ran March 5 and 6 and culminated in a finale at RockPointe Church in Bearspaw on March 11, gave youth ages four to 18 an opportunity to display their talents under the spotlight.
"I think the excitement and enthusiasm for not only the finale, but for the festival itself was really evident in the fact that our community has some incredibly talented young people," said organizer Cyndie Baum.
"To not celebrate them would be remiss."
Over 500 spectators were in attendance for the finale, where around 60 performers, including dance groups, singers, instrumentalists and musical theatre artists, performed for a panel of adjudicators selected for the event.
They didn't have an easy job, but judges Leila Winton, Sheri Wilson, Martin Parnell, Dan Kroffat, Megan Hessel, John Pohl, Bill Hartman, Kevin Wilson and Hal Firlotte picked out seven recipients to split the $10,000 Illa Rumpel scholarship along with an overall winner on the night.
Eighteen-year-old Natalie Evans, in her ninth appearance at the festival, was chosen as both a scholarship recipient and as the overall winner from her solo musical theatre performance.
It's her first time winning the show, but she's previously received awards of distinction.
"It's pretty cool to win, it was such a great night," she said, admitting she still gets nervous before stepping on stage.
"It's always nerve-wracking, but you get a little more used to the nerves and you learn how to channel them into excitement and into the performance."
Evans, who is from Cochrane, used to attend Bow Valley High School until she switched her focus in Grade 10 to a performing arts school in Calgary. She has been taking voice lesson since she was seven and has appeared in productions in Calgary as well as in Bragg Creek with the Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre Society.
She now has her sights set on a musical theatre program at Randolph College for the Performing Arts in Toronto and said she plans to use her winnings to help pay for tuition.
Other winners of the scholarship this year include Norah Macdonald, Sydney Simoneau, Katie Watterson, Avery Clark, Kaitlin Henry and Alexia Strutzenberger.
Awards of distinction were given to Bella Vogelaar, Tess and Turner Bates, Glenn Knichle, Simoneau and members of the tap group Running Behind.
Baum was also recognized on stage for her efforts organizing the festival year-over-year by Kroffat, a member of the Rotary club who also sat on the panel of judges.
"Tonight in our audience, we have someone who's made a real difference over the decades," said Kroffat at the end of the finale. "There are individuals who go about doing this [quietly].
"They ask nothing in return other than to see the smiles on other people's faces. I think it would be remiss of us to let this night go without one more award of recognition."
Kroffat welcomed Baum to the stage to present her with a community builder award and MC and Sportstalk 770 AM radio host Jock Wilson read a letter from Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung thanking the organizer for her efforts on behalf of the community.
"I'm humbled by the recognition and it was a real gift to have them do that," Baum said. "But ultimately, for me, it's all about the success of the kids."
Without support from the community each year, Baum said the event would not be possible.
"Our community sponsors have made this happen more than any of us have," she said. "It's with their support that we're able to provide medals, scholarships and cash prizes to celebrate the talents of local youth."
