Bennington County's Got Talent 2021

&

PRESENT

Fridays, April 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2021 Keri Winnie

Catherine Hornby

Billy Dusk

Gretchen Sausville

John Torhan

Ayden Crispe

Ian Burrington

Bentley Lewis

Nikolas Segura

Carson Gordon

Tucker Beaudoin

Elise Hornby

Jenna

LeRoux

Clay McDonald

Kobi Addington

Will Addington

Sarah Krinsky

Abagail Every Molly Hunter Mooney Enemy Alive

Izzy

See Inside for Details

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Thursday, April 8, 2021 | Bennington County’s Got Talent

Starting April 9th at 6:30PM and continuing on April 16th, April 23rd and 30th our contestants’ videos will be aired live on CAT-TV channel 1095 and live on the Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal and CAT-TV Facebook pages. Our judges will vote and then it will be your turn! Go to benningtonbanner.com or Manchesterjournal.com and cast your vote for your favorite! Voting will open immediately following the live broadcast and will close at noon on Monday. The winner of each group will move onto our finale and will be announced on both the Bennington Banner and Manchester Journal on Friday.

Our finale will take place live at the Park McCullough House on May 14th.

judges:

Chris Oldham Alexina Jones Greg Van Houten Erica Floriani

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!

BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com

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Izzy LeRoux

BENNINGTON, VT ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Izzy LeRoux has been singing since before she could talk. She has always loved singing with her Grampy. When he passed in April of 2015, it encouraged her to keep on singing and never stop.

She has always been into singing and school plays. Before attending MAUHS she attended Sacred Heart, and was involved in their choir, plays, band and Christmas pageants. Her dream is to travel the world and sing and one day she hopes to meet and sing with Bruno Mars, her idol.

When she’s not singing, Izzy can be found watching Grey’s Anatomy, playing soccer, having fun with her niece and nephews, correcting people’s grammar and constantly talking about how in love she is with Bruno Mars.

Izzy aspires to be a singer-songwriter and just have fun while doing what she loves! If not in the music industry she would love to pursue being a Chiropractic Physician. She is all about chasing her dream.

She would love to be an inspiration to even at least one person!

Bennington County’s Got Talent | Thursday, April 8, 2021

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Clay McDonald

BENNINGTON, VT ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Clay has been singing as long as he can remember. Clay became a member of the MAU choir when he moved to Bennington in March of 2019. Before he moved he went to a school that didn’t have any active music program. That’s where he really immersed himself in song writing. Clay enjoys writing music to “paint a picture of his world.” When he’s not singing, Clay enjoys drawing and playing video games.

DORSET, VT ����������������������������������������������������������������������� When Elise isn’t ballet dancing, playing hockey, running, swimming or reading, she’s playing the piano. She’s a quiet soul full of heart and grit. She loves the Beatles and hopes you do too.

BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com

Elise Hornby

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Thursday, April 8, 2021 | Bennington County’s Got Talent

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Jenna Pratt

BRATTLEBORO, VT �����������������������������������������������������������������������

Jenna has been playing guitar for 3 years. She’s always had an interest in music since she was very young, so she decided to teach herself how to play guitar. She moved to Vermont from Massachusetts when she was 3. This is the first contest she has ever entered. She really enjoys playing classic rock from the 60s to the 80s. In addition to playing guitar, she also really enjoys taking nature photography, and spending time with her animals.

Keri Winnie

BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com

BENNINGTON, VT �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������

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Keri is a single mother of two awesome teenagers. She has lived in a home for 13 years, which has been owned by her family since her mother was born. She is a self taught tattoo artist and also an entrepreneur with several other passions and hobbies. She has been a singer-songwriter for as long as she can remember and has been working on her first promotional album for a year now, since she competed in this competition. In her spare time, she loves camping, hiking, baking and cooking, building and most importantly, spending time with her kids and friends and family. Her greatest achievement to this day is having run a camp for kids and teenagers out of her home for 16 years, known as CAMP FIJI. Her song for this contest is an original song called “Tears in my Eyes,” written and dedicated to almost 50 kids, as well as to everyone she loves.

Good Luck!

to Bennington’s Got Talent Contestants from your local music store!

417 Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201 [802] 442 6252 knappsvt.com facebook.com/knappsVT

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Catherine Hornby

DORSET, VT ����������������������������������������������������������������������� When not ballet dancing, playing hockey, running, swimming or reading, Kate is singing and playing her ukulele. She loves performing in front of an audience.

Bennington County’s Got Talent | Thursday, April 8, 2021

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Billy Dusk

SUNDERLAND, VT ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Billy Dusk is a pseudonym. Billy refers to the songs he’s written lately as “trans country.” They‘re based on simple, mostly major and minor chords.

Always a closet poet, a few years ago Billy started playing keyboard. He often played with a friend who liked country music, especially the old stuff. Those were the kinds of songs he first learned.

What Billy writes is a little different, so probably in need of a category, thus, trans country. Trans for the many implications of that prefix, but especially across and beyond.

Billy has great fun writing. Inspired by a friend who completed a 100 half marathons after she turned fifty, he decided to write a hundred songs. They are adding up quickly and can be seen on youtube under Bill Dusk.

DORSET, VT ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Kobi Addington is a 6th grader at Long Trail school. He is half Japanese. He was born in Japan and moved here when he was 2. He started playing the piano because his older brother played piano and he wanted to play like him.

BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com

Kobi Addington

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Thursday, April 8, 2021 | Bennington County’s Got Talent

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Will Addington

DORSET, VT ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Will is a junior who goes to Burr and Burton. Originally from Japan, he and his family moved when he was 8. He has been playing the piano since he was 5 years old. He currently gigs in the summer with his band, The Flatlanders. Will also shares his music on social media, where one of his song covers was posted by the popular Barstool Sports. When Will isn’t playing music, he loves to play baseball and football.

Sarah Krinsky

BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com

BENNINGTON, VT �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������

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Sarah was born and raised in Staten Island, NY. Her journey with music began with playing piano and violin, then one day she heard someone playing the cello, and knew that was what she really wanted to learn how to play. All throughout elementary school and high school, Sarah played in chamber ensembles and orchestra.

She sang with her church and school choir, but it wasn’t until college that she decided to actively pursue voice.

She studied at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and chose to focus on opera. She sang with the Nevada Opera Company and studied conducting with American Choral Master, Vance George. In college, she also discovered an interest in anthropology, and decided to switch paths so that she could travel the world. Music remains an important part of her life, and during graduate school she played cello with the Le Moyne College Symphonic Orchestra and she has kept up much of her piano skills with teaching privately. In 2019, she moved to Bennington with her husband and their fur family. Sarah works full-time and owns a vintage clothing boutique called My Generation Vintage.

Gretchen Sausville

BENNINGTON, VT �����������������������������������������������������������������������

Gretchen is a singer from Bennington, who has performed in the last two Bennington County’s Got Talent shows. Gretchen has been an on-stage performer since age 6, performing in musicals, plays and music productions. She hopes that the third time’s the charm, and that she can take home the grand prize this year.

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John Torhan

BENNINGTON, VT ����������������������������������������������������������������������� John has been playing the drums since the age of 9. While music did not become his full-time occupation, music and drumming have been his life-long passions. He has played in countless cover and original bands over the years, has recorded with numerous bands and has toured the East Coast with a top tribute band playing theaters, clubs and festivals. John also plays a little rhythm guitar.

John recently started playing drums again following a year-long hiatus after being diagnosed with cancer in 2020. His main goal for 2021 is to get back to playing live gigs and recording, and just enjoying being healthy enough to play again!

John lives in Bennington with his wife and stepson. When not pursuing his musical endeavors, John works as a data analyst for a top market research firm.

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Bennington County’s Got Talent | Thursday, April 8, 2021

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Thursday, April 8, 2021 | Bennington County’s Got Talent

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Ayden Crispe

DANBY, VT �����������������������������������������������������������������������

Ayden Crispe started writing poetry at the age of 10, soon after moving to Danby from Pennsylvania. By 12, those poems turned into song lyrics and by the time she was 13, she had produced an original single. By 14 she had a full-length album out of original music and started performing locally at farmers markets. Now, at 16, she just produced a second single and is working on another full-length album of songs based on her favorite novels.

When Ayden is not writing lyrics, music or singing, she is an 11th grader at Burr and Burton Academy. She is a snowboarder, recently started blacksmithing and proudly serves as a volunteer firefighter for the Pawlet Fire Department.

Ian Burrington

POWNAL, VT ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Ian Burrington started playing instruments at a very young age and has carried his playing into his adult years.

Ian first started playing guitar when was 6 years old, when he picked up a guitar and tried to teach himself how to play Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Ian also took piano lessons for four years and has participated in school band since he was 11 years old, all the way until he was 17 years old. Ian has performed in talent shows and piano recitals.

BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com

Ian, now a 2020 graduate from Vermont Technical College with a degree in civil and environmental engineering, has produced a six track EP titled Peach Misfits. Ian wrote the songs while away in college, and after getting a job in the engineering field he could finally obtain enough funding to produce an EP. Peach Misfits is available on all streaming services.

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Ian continues to write music during his free time. When not writing music, Ian works for an engineering firm during the week. Ian lives in Pownal, with his loyal black lab named Stella.

Molly Mooney

TROY, NY ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Molly Mooney is a 16-year-old singer from Troy, N.Y. For the better part of her childhood she didn’t know how to speak, but would know how to play certain instruments and sing songs quickly. From the age of 12, Molly started writing her own lyrics and poems. Recently, she started writing more than ever before. After sitting on many songs she decided to release one that was made last minute: “Blue House.”

She recorded this song directly on her iPhone and uploaded it to SoundCloud. The song now has almost 1,000 listens and is still getting shared after 1 month of being uploaded. The song is dedicated to her grandmother’s blue house that her whole family has known for 3 generations. Since Molly’s mother’s passing due to breast cancer, saying goodbye to big things like that has been a challenge.

Before the pandemic, Molly was very active in track, lacrosse and community service with a camp during the summers. She loves spending time with her friends and family as much as she can and is loved by her brother Liam, father Kevin, and her orange tabby cat Lily.

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Every Enemy Alive

BENNINGTON, VT �����������������������������������������������������������������������

Every Enemy Alive is a metal band formed in Bennington. Members Anthony Anderson (vocals), Jacob Dunican (guitar), Seth Bartholdi (guitar and vocals), Zack Primrose (bass and vocals) and Zack Ritcher (drums) work as a collective to write, preform and record original music with influences from 2000s metalcore to 80s punk and everything in between. Being from diverse backgrounds and styles, they each try to imprint their own flavor into their songs and performance to create a unique and high energy show every time they walk out on stage.

They have also played shows ranging from local gigs around Bennington all the way to packed shows opening for international acts like Miss May I and Ice Nine Kills. They write about a wide range of subjects from personal experiences to social issues and historical events. The song that they are submitting is an original called “Stories of the Damned.” This song was written in order to show that no matter how dark of an episode you may be going through in your life, you are not alone, that you can orchestrate a new ending to the story that is your life. You just have to push through the pain to the otherside.

Bennington County’s Got Talent | Thursday, April 8, 2021

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Abagail Hunter

POULTNEY, VT ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Abagail has been dancing at Miss Jackie’s Studio of Dance for 13 years. She spends her time taking six dance class each week in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern and ballet pointe. When she isn’t dancing she is busy as a Junior at Poultney High School, where she spends her time between school and cheering on the football team as a Varsity Cheerleader. Abagail also has worked hard academically and recently was accepted into the National Honor Society.

Her love for dance only grew in 7th grade when she earned the lead role of Clara in the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, with the Albany Berkshire Ballet. With drive and determination, Abagail competed and was crowned the 2019/2020 East Coast USA National Teen Talent winner.

Bentley Lewis

MANCHESTER, VT �����������������������������������������������������������������������

Bentley Lewis is a singer-songwriter from Manchester. For the last decade, he has written, recorded and released many original songs along with many country classic covers. His biggest influences are Keith Whitley and Vern Gosdin. Bentley has played multiple small and large venues across Vermont and upstate New York. Bentley is a member of the Northeastern Country Music Association. Bentley has goals to one day be a Nashville songwriter and return country music back to its true roots.

BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com

Abagail is looking forward to finishing out the school year and applying to college. She hopes to major in the Arts.

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Thursday, April 8, 2021 | Bennington County’s Got Talent

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Nikolas Segura

BENNINGTON, VT �����������������������������������������������������������������������

Nikolas Segura has been singing, acting and dancing for about seven years now. He also plays piano, trombone, electric bass guitar, guitar and percussion. He moved to Bennington from New Jersey at one year old. He first started singing in 3rd grade when he did 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, trombone and guitar and performed in musicals such as Shrek, Les Miserables, Mary Poppins and Beauty and the Beast. He also danced in Albany Berkshire Ballet’s Production of The Nutcracker. In 2016, Nik was cast in the MAUHS production of Oliver as Oliver Twist. Nik loves music and dreams to write his own musical someday. He currently studies dance at Berkshire Dance Theatre, and is a member of the Chamber Singers, jazz band and Drama Club at Mount Anthony Union High School, where he is now a freshman. Nik is also a member of the cross country running team and nordic ski team at MAUHS.

Carson Gordon

BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com

BENNINGTON, VT �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������

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Carson was born and raised in Bennington. He loves it here in Vermont, but he cannot wait to see the world when he goes to college. He’s not sure where he’s going yet, but hopefully a big city! Carson has been singing for as long as he can remember. He and his best friend Lily would put on shows for their parents every weekend.

This is where Carson gained his love for performing. He loves musical theater and plans to go to college and major in that. Maybe one day you will be able to see him on Broadway! He’s been accepted into the New England, Vermont All State, District, and ACDA Eastern regional honor choirs. He is also the representative for Vermont in the U.S. All National Choir’s virtual video. When he’s not singing or performing, which is sadly most of the time now because of COVID, you can see him running around town, taking classes at CCV, running food at Madison’s or buying crystals at Paula’s Rock Shop!

Tucker Beaudoin

BENNINGTON, VT �����������������������������������������������������������������������

Tucker is a Music Industry major at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y. When he’s not busy practicing, he can be found either at his partner’s house, or at home on the couch with his dogs Fargo and Bauer, and his cat Wicket. Tucker likes good food, a comfy chair and long walks in the woods.

Bennington County’s Got Talent | Thursday, April 8, 2021 Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

It’s up to you to vote for the most talented performer in the fourth Bennington’s Got Talent contest, hosted by the Bennington Banner and Manchester Journal.

No surprise, but this year’s contest has gone virtual because of the pandemic. The 2021 contest is generously sponsored by Coggins Ford, Honda & Toyota, and Casella Waste Management, CAT-TV and the Park McCullough House.

“We used to do it as a live event in one night, where everyone performed. This is a fun and different way to highlight the most talented

performers among us,” says Susan Plaisance, advertising manager for the Journal and Banner.

Contestants had a three-week window to submit a video of their performance.

Judges Christopher Oldham, Park-McCullough House executive director; Greg Van Houten, owner of GVH Design and also a musician; Erica Floriani, Bennington Chamber of Commerce member manager; and Alexina Jones, director of advancement at the Bennington Museum, whittled the contestants down to 21 finalist

performers.

Starting April 9, the first batch of finalist videos will be aired live at 6:30 p.m. on CAT-TV channel 1095 and live on the Banner, Journal and CAT-TV Facebook pages.

Voting will open immediately after the live broadcast and will close at noon on the following Monday. The winner of each group will move onto the finale and will be announced in the Banner and Journal.

Subsequent groups of finalists will air the next three Fridays at the same time.

BenningtonBanner.com | ManchesterJournal.com

Bennington County, you will be the deciders on who gets $1,000

At the live finale event, we will feature the four winners from each weekly airing; it’ll take place live at the Park-McCullough House on May 14 at 6:30. The winner will go home with $1,000.

Last year, three-time Got Talent competitor Timothy Wade, of Poultney, won $1,000 and a one-day session at Old Mill Road Recording, a studio in East Arlington.

Stay tuned to benningtonbanner. com or manchesterjournal.com, and cast your vote for your favorite performer.

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Thursday, April 8, 2021 | Bennington County’s Got Talent

Introducing The Coggins Auto Group Meet Our Team

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