The 18th Heritage Alive! Mountain Youth Talent Contest was held at the Greening Up the Mountains Festival on Saturday, April 25, in Sylva.
This contest provides an opportunity to discover, develop, and encourage talent in the youth of Western North Carolina and to provide an opportunity for local youth to perform on stage before an audience. In hopes of encouraging a continuing “sense of place” for our young musical mountain youth, Jackson County 4-H and Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA) co-produce this contest that was held on the Signature Brew sponsored stage.
This year’s winners include:
Youth: Mandolin
1st: Caleb Turpin, Robbinsville (10)
2nd: Emma Budden, Cullowhee (12)
Youth: Fiddle
1st: Haven Bryant, Sylva (9)
2nd: Sayumi DeSilva, Sylva (9)
3rd: Abby Sparks, Whittier (9)
4th: Aspen Budden, Cullowhee (10)
Youth: Guitar
1st: Caleb Turpin, Robbinsville (10)
Youth (age 5-9): Vocal
1st: Ella Ledford, Sylva (9)
2nd: Kadence Simpson, Easley, South Carolina (7)
Youth (age 10+): Vocal
1st: Lindley Wyatt, Whittier (10)
2nd: Emily Franklin, Bryson City (12)
3rd: Caleb Turpin, Robbinsville (10)
Teen: Vocal
1st: Iris Deyman, Pisgah Forest (14)
Teen: Banjo
1st: Sean Crowe, Cleveland, South Carolina (13)
Teen: Mandolin
1st: Cole Rogers, Central, South Carolina (13)
2nd: Trey Pate, Cullowhee (14)
Teen: Fiddle
1st: Jenna Eyler, Sylva (14)
Teen: Group
1st: “Saluda Flavor,” Sean Crowe (13)
& Cole Rogers (13)
Best of Show:
1st: Ella Ledford (9)
2nd: “Saluda Flavor,” Sean Crowe (13)
& Cole Rogers (13)
3rd: Caleb Turpin (10)
As the “Best of Show” winner, Ledford will get the chance to perform onstage at Mountain Heritage Day held at Western Carolina University on Sept. 26 in Cullowhee.