Bennington County's Got Talent, 2020

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PRESENT

Friday, January 10, 2020

, Greenwall Auditorium, Bennington College .

Bennington, Vt. 6-8 p.m

lary chen il t H e l r ie G n o a t D is n r o C s Car Bentley Chase ville s s u n e a v S y e e t l S k n c o u B d Gor Lewis

Jordyn Travis

Keri Winnie

Tucker Timothy Nikolas Wade Beaudoin Segura

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Friday, January 3, 2020 | Bennington County’s Got Talent BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com 2

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Chris Oldham Christopher Oldham was born and raised in North Bennington, Vt. He attended Castleton State College, and when he returned to Bennington he was employed by the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. He also worked for United Counseling Services and New England Newspapers Inc. He served on several boards for various organizations and spent nine years on the Bennington Select Board. He is the author of a recently released children’s book, “A Father’s Letter to His Son,” and from 2015-2019 he served as the Executive Director for the Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless. In 2018 he was one of 40 Vermont individuals under the age of 40 to be recognized with the Vermont Business Magazine’s Rising Star Award. Oldham resigned from BCCH in September to become the Executive Director of the Park McCullough House Association.

Lynne Worth

Elizabeth “Beth” Wilwol has been in the floral industry for over 30 years. She spent 27 of those years working for The Gift Garden, before purchasing the store with her husband, Dwain, in 2015 after the previous owner retired. After purchasing the store and making some significant changes, they outgrew their space at 343 Main St. and moved to a much larger and more central location at 431 Main St., which is their home today.

Beth is a supporter of making downtown Bennington successful by participating in all the downtown events. She serves as a Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Better Bennington Corporation. She is a supporter of the national “Wreaths Across America” program, buying and placing wreaths on veterans’ graves. She and her husband also participate in the Society of American Florists’ national program, “Petal It Forward,” giving away two floral bouquets to random people on the street — one to keep, and one to give away.

Joshua Sherman Joshua Sherman is the president of Joshua Sherman Productions. He began his theatrical career as an archivist and designer. His mentors include theater legends Al Hirschfeld, Peter Harvey, Santo Loquasto, Willa Kim and Tony Walton. He is the publisher of Stratton Magazine, Vermont Magazine, Manchester Life and the Vermont News Guide.

He is the founder of Old Mill Road Recording. Trained in both the arts and sciences, Joshua is also a practicing M.D. with a focus on patient advocacy.

He is a board member of The Al Hirschfeld Foundation and a GRAMMY® voter.

For more information visit oldmillroadrecording.com

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Lynne Worth was born in Chicago and graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Journalism. After graduation she moved to California and worked as an advertising assistant while her husband was in law school. They eventually settled on Long Island where she raised her son and daughter.

While her children were young she helped run a Saturday morning arts workshop.

Because of her love of singing, she sang with the Huntington Choral Society in Huntington, N.Y. and the Hibernian Festival Singers in Bay Shore, N.Y. The highlight of 30 years of choral singing was performing with the Hibernian Singers at Carnegie Hall in a tribute to the late Frank Paterson, a world renowned Irish tenor.

Lynne moved to Vermont in 2004 and joined the Dorset Players. She first appeared in My Fair Lady and went on to fill many roles – stage manager, producer, props person, and director. For 11 years she served on the Players’ Board of Directors, including a term as President and Treasurer. She is currently serving as the Executive Producer for the Players.

Elizabeth Wilwol

Bennington County’s Got Talent | Friday, January 3, 2020

Meet our judges

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Friday, January 3, 2020 | Bennington County’s Got Talent

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Shannon McLenithan __________________________________________________________ Shannon McLenithan is the Senior Vice President of Retail Lending for The Bank of Bennington. She joined the bank in 2013 after a 20 year banking career in Williamstown, Mass. She serves as the board chair for Oak Hill Children’s Center as well as the chair for the Town of Pownal Economic Development Committee.

She also serves on the Pownal Cal Ripken Youth Baseball board. For over a decade, she has been a

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Shannon has no singing talent — don’t be like Shannon.

John Shannahan __________________________________________________________ Bennington Downtown Alliance executive director John Shannahan, has been with the organization for over 10 years. The Bennington Downtown Alliance follows the Vermont Downtown Program four-point approach to downtown revitalization. John is also the treasurer for the Bennington Area Arts Council. He is a member of the Grow Bennington Initiative, the Citizens for a Greater Bennington, and an ex-officio board member of the Bennington Chamber of Commerce.

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Bentley Lewis MANCHESTER, VT. _____________________________________________________________________________ Bentley Lewis is a singer/songwriter originally from West Pawlet, Vt. He went to Granville High School in New York and currently resides in Manchester, Vt. Bentley has been recording his original material and plans to release an album of original material. He loves country music and his biggest influences are Keith Whitley and Travis Tritt. Bentley has played many gigs throughout Vermont and New York. He has played at place like the Painted Pony in Lake Luzerne, N.Y. and the Boar’s Nest in Fort Ann, N.Y. Bentley spends most of his time making music and raising his girls Evelyn and Aubrey with his wife of five years, Rachel.

Bennington County’s Got Talent | Friday, January 3, 2020

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Carson Gordon BENNINGTON, VT. _____________________________________________________________________________ Carson was born and raised in Bennington. He is currently a junior at MAU. Carson has been singing and listening to music for as long as he can remember. His inspirations are his parents, family, friends, his dog Tonka and his teachers. He performed in his first musical when he was in Kindergarten, as a squirrel in “Willy Wonka.” Little did he know how much he would love it! Carson auditioned and was accepted into the District, All State, New England and ACDA Regional Honor choirs. He is also the sole representative for Vermont in the U.S. All National Choir’s video. His goal is to go to college for musical theater and be on Broadway someday. When he’s not singing, Carson likes dancing, acting, chemistry and math. You may have seen him recently as Bert in “Mary Poppins,” Benvolio in “Romeo and Juliet” or Marius in “Les Miserables.”

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www.ucsvt.org

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Cristo Buckley MANCHESTER, VT. _____________________________________________________________________________ Cristo is from Manchester, Vt., and attends MEMS. He was inspired to start singing by his second grade teacher, because she would always sing songs to the class and write poems. He chose to submit an original song called “Leave,” because at the moment he can relate to it the most. He has participated in school plays, talent shows and singing competitions. Cristo hopes to share his music on a bigger platform one day, and have fans that listen and can be healed by his work. He also plays tennis, runs in cross country events and skis.

Daniel Stevens BENNINGTON, VT. _____________________________________________________________________________

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Daniel Stevens, a local of Bennington, performs as a musician within and around the Bennington music scene, and is usually found playing with other talented musicians in the area. He has performed in previous Bennington’s Got Talent shows both by himself and with previous winner Bubba Lou Tugget.

He wants to give it a shot again.

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Gretchen Sausville BENNINGTON, VT. _____________________________________________________________________________ Gretchen has always been a performer. From ballet as a child, to musical theater and choir in elementary school all the way up to graduation, being in the spotlight is something that has come naturally to Gretchen. She has performed solo for the Southern Vermont Storm, and was a BCGT contestant last year! This year, she’s gotten lots of practice at various local karaoke nights, and hopes to prove that she has what it takes to win BCGT.

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Hillary Chase NORTH BENNINGTON, VT. _____________________________________________________________________________ Hillary Chase is a prolific song-writer who has been performing in and around Western Mass. since the age of 11. She grew up in Orange, Mass., and is a 2014 graduate of Bennington College. She now resides in Bennington, Vt., where she works at a nursing home providing care and music therapy. Chase is very dedicated to music as her passion and career. She plays locally and is currently in the studio working on her second album. Her first full length album, “Find My Way,” was released in February 2016.

Chase’s music has been described as soul/folk. She mixes complex imagery with poetic lyrics and structures that range from very simple to intricate and sometimes unexpected. She writes songs of love and change, soul-searching and travel. Over the past couple of years she has played frequent gigs at the Deja Brew in Wendell, Mass., The Abandoned Building Brewery in Easthampton, BYTE in Hoosick Falls, N.Y. and The Montague Bookmill, as well as years of headlining at Tool Town Live in Athol, Mass.

Bennington County’s Got Talent | Friday, January 3, 2020

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Jordyn Travis PETERSBURG, N.Y. _____________________________________________________________________________ Jordyn Travis grew up in Petersburg, N.Y. and graduated from Hoosick Falls last year. She has been singing for small audiences for only three years and started teaching herself guitar four years ago. It started when she sang “Hallelujah” for her twin brother, who then encouraged her to post a cover video on Facebook. After getting a great response from everyone, she’s played at her aunt’s wedding; morning classes at school every Monday; her school talent show; and The Danforth for the elderly every Wednesday, and continues to make videos for social media. She hopes to continue playing for new places and grow her audience. Some of her other hobbies include art and outdoor activities.

BENNINGTON, VT. _____________________________________________________________________________ Music and singing have both been a huge part of Keri’s life for as long as she can remember. She has always enjoyed singing, and has sung at weddings and funerals, as well as as with a few local bands from time to time.

When not singing, she is helping run a restaurant where she has worked for over six years. A couple years ago, she started tattooing and has since won second and first place at a local tattoo expo. Her other hobbies include baking creative cakes, reupholstering furniture, drawing, building and being outdoors.

She lives in a house that has been in her family since her mother was born. When her son was born almost 15 years ago, she started running a daycare. A few years later, her daughter— who also loves to sing — was born. Over the years, she has helped raise and watch over 50 kids. Throughout the years, she and her two children have started calling their home “Camp Fiji.”

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Keri Winnie

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Nikolas Segura BENNINGTON, VT. _____________________________________________________________________________ Nikolas Segura has been singing, acting and dancing for about six years now. He also plays piano, trombone and percussion. He moved to Bennington from New Jersey at one year old. He first started singing in third grade when he performed in “The Wizard of Oz” at MAUHS. After that, he started taking dance lessons and started his first instrument, percussion. He later found interest in piano and trombone, and did Junior musicals such as Shrek Jr. and Beauty and the Beast Jr. In 2016, Nik was cast in the high school’s production of “Oliver” as Oliver Twist. Today he currently takes seven dance classes, has done ten musicals and plays three instruments. He hopes to become an actor on Broadway when he grows up and wishes to write his own musical. Nikolas enjoys cooking as another hobby.

Timothy Wade POULTNEY, VT. _____________________________________________________________________________

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Timothy Wade, a resident of Poultney, Vt., is currently employed at GE Aviation. He has been singing as long as he can remember. He sings mostly out at karaoke with friends, as well as performing in Bennington’s Got Talent the past two years. In his down time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and having play time with his dog.

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Tucker Beaudoin BENNINGTON, VT. _____________________________________________________________________________ Tucker is a Bennington resident, and has been singing since birth. He currently attends the College of Saint Rose, where he majors in music industry studies. When not singing, Tucker can be found playing guitar or drums, or curled up on the couch with his cat, Wicket.

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Bennington County’s Got Talent | Friday, January 3, 2020

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Friday, January 3, 2020 | Bennington County’s Got Talent BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com 10

Official ballot Below, please mark your choice for the best performer in this year’s Bennington County’s Got Talent contest by filling in the circle next to their name. One vote per ballot and one ballot per audience member, please. Ballots will be collected after the final performance.

1. Bentley Lewis

2. Carson Gordon

3. Cristo Buckley

4. Daniel Stevens

5. Gretchen Sausville

6. Hillary Chase

7. Jordyn Travis

8. Keri Winnie

9. Nikolas Segura

10. Timothy Wade

11. Tucker Beaudoin

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Bennington County’s Got Talent | Friday, January 3, 2020

Bennington College celebrates Bennington County’s Got Talent!

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