Winners in 24 talent categories were awarded more than $9,000 in cash prizes, trophies and medals along with two college scholarships, the Performer of the Year title and American Kids Member of the Year in the non-profit American Kids Inc. 2009 National Finals membership talent competition in Branson, Mo. The recent week-long competition included 169 kids presenting 253 acts.
The top 25 acts of the week competed in a special show for the AllStar honor. Young performers from Illinois, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri took home top honors.
Division Winners
Gospel vocal solo: Koryn Hawthorne, 11, Abbeville, La., first, Never Would Have Made It; Lindsay Mendez, 13, Marrero, La., runner-up, I Believe I Can Fly.
Musical theatre solo: Ammarie Grassle, 14, Rogers Ark., first, Children Will Listen; Kayla Gray, 8, Springfield, Mo., runner-up, Little Girls.
Popular vocal solo: Koryn Hawthorne, 11, Abbeville, La., first, I Surrender; Ezrah Cheek, 5, Kingfisher, Okla., runner-up, You Made Me Love You.
Country vocal solo: Alaska Holloway, 14, Broken Arrow, Okla., first, Trouble is a Woman; Nikki Chenoweth, 12, Frisco, Texas, runner-up, Bless the Broken Road.
Serious vocal solo: Koryn Hawthorne, 11, Abbeville, La., first, A Change Gonna Come; Christina Hera 11, Kennes, La., runner-up, Somewhere.
Dance solo: Jocelyn Pullin, 14, Edmond, Okla., first, To the Moon; Nick Rivera, 16, O’Fallon, Ill., runner-up, Distortion.
Specialty act solo: Devyn Thompson, 17, Choctaw, Okla., first, You Ain’t Woman Enough, ventriloquism; Kallie Clark, 13, Poteau, Okla., runner-up, Over the Rainbow, harp solo.
Gospel vocal group: Framed with members Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., and Alex Andrews, 13, Rogers, Ark., first, Battle Hymn.
Musical theatre group: Alaska and Madison with members Madison Metcalf, 13, Jenks, Okla., and Alaska Holloway, 14, Broken Arrow, Okla., first, Anything You Can Do; Grace Haven with members Ammarie Grassle, 14, and William Grassley, 17, Rogers, Ark., runner-up, Legally Blonde.
Country vocal group: Alaska and Madison with members Madison Metcalf, 13, Jenks, Okla., and Alaska Holloway, 14, Broken Arrow, Okla., first, Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love; Destined for Glory, Jonathan Fair, 12, Sarah Fair, 13, Daniel Fair, 17, and Nathaniel Fair, 18, Rogers, Ark., runner-up, My Wish.
Dance group: Jocelyn and Kristen with members Jocelyn Pullin, 14, and Kristen Albertson, 17, Edmond, Okla., first By Your Side; Jocelyn, Josie, Payton with members Jocelyn Pullin, 14, of Edmond, Okla., Payton Doss, 11, and Josie Doss, 13, Yukon, Okla., runner-up, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
Specialty act group: Organized Chaos with members Sarah Wilkerson, 9, Bethel Heights, Ark., Carter Andrews, 10, Addison Sowers, 12, and Alex Andrews, 13, Rogers, Ark., Evan Chronister, 10, and Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., Kyler Mahar, 10, Springdale, Ark., Nicholas Roark, 11, and Lori Emerson, 16, Bentonville, Ark., Kaylin Cripps, 14, Gentry, Ark., and Theresa Stoll, 17, Bella Vista, Ark., first, Deconstruction; Anna, Sarah and Luke with members Luke Wilkerson, 5, Sarah Wilkerson, 9, and Anna Wilkerson, 11, Bethel Heights, Ark., runner-up, Guitarzan.
Serious vocal group: Strong Black Coffee with members Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., Kaylin Cripps, 14, Gentry, Ark., Alex Andrews, 13, Ammarie Grassle, 14, and William Grassle, 17, Rogers, Ark., first, Seasons of Love.
Popular vocal group: Boxer Babes with members Allison Forbes, 11, Gretha, La., Briana Bonvillian, 12, and Roxy Comardelle, 13, Westwego, La., Rebecca Lombas, 13, and Alexsa Morgan, 13, Marrero, La., Rebecca Francis, 15, Terrytown, La., and Brittany Ratke, 16, Bridge City, La., first, Hit Me with Your Best Shot; In Unison with members Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., Alex Andrews, 13, Rogers, Ark., and Kaylin Cripps, 14, Gentry, Ark., runner-up, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.
See Part 1 for other winners
American Kids is different from other competitions in the performance opportunities given the group's membership outside of the competition. The organization is open to all youth ages 3 through high school seniors, alumni, their parents and supporters.
American Kids began 27 years ago as Oklahoma Kids and has its headquarters in Branson, Mo. Young people join American Kids just like adults join a civic club. In the program, they find a peer group all involved in making a difference in the world by using the performing arts as the vehicle. In addition to the membership competition, shows range from fairs, festivals and theme parks on a national and international scale to the touring cast of Raising America, a patriotic musical.
“We promise exposure, growth, character development and opportunity. Because of the experience gained from being on stage, our members are better prepared for whatever they choose to do in life,” said Dr. Dale Smith, founder. “Fame and fortune are not promised, but personal development is.”
For more info: Part 1
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