Berkshire County's Got Talent 2018

PRESENTS

Friday, December 14, 2018

Jess Wilson

Olivia Thiemann

Gerald Hill

Emily Young

Chad Tarves

Nick Swain

Cornerstone Sponsors

Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, Pittsfield, Mass. 6-8 p.m.

Jalisa Jessup

Tanisha Adams

Berkshire hills Chorus

Christine Bile

Sophie Lane

Boxxa Vine

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Berkshire County’s Got Talent

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Tyler Fairbank is the CEO of The Fairbank Group, LLC, the entity that manages Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, LLC (Hancock, Mass.), Cranmore Mountain Resort, LLC (North Conway, N.Y.), Ski Bromley, LLC (Peru, Vermont), EOS Ventures, LLC (Hancock, Mass.), Bullwheel Productions, LLC, SnowGun Technologies and various other endeavors.

In addition, Tyler serves as the President of Jiminy Peak overseeing day to day operations. Jiminy Peak, Cranmore and Bromley are ski resorts that have a long standing heritage of skiing in New England. In addition to resort operations, the Fairbank Group oversees the real estate endeavors at all resorts.

The Fairbank Group also oversees other technology endeavors including SnowGun Technologies and Bullwheel Productions.

Previously, Tyler was the president of the Berkshire Economic Development Corporation. Before BEDC, Mr. Fairbank was the NAFTA Director of New Business & Sales for TÜV America, the U.S.-based subsidiary of the global organization TÜV SUD, headquartered in Munich, Germany.

Ty Allan Jackson is a children’s book author, publisher, literacy advocate and two-time TEDx speaker. Ty travels across the country empowering children of all ages about the joy and power of reading.

His books have been used by companies such as Google, the YMCA, The Boys and Girls Club, The United Way and numerous financial institutions and schools across the country, inspiring children to dream big. He is also the co-founder of the Read Or Else movement, created to shine a light on the problem of illiteracy and to provide books to children in homeless shelters across America. Along with an economics professor from Northern Kentucky University, he has also founded Danny Dollar Academy, a program created to educate elementary school students from low-income communities about the importance of finance and entrepreneurship through his best-selling book “Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire”. You can learn more about Ty and his mission to make the world more literate at BigHeadBooks.com and ReadOrElse.com

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Tyler fairbank

Berkshire County’s Got Talent

Meet our judges

Mary Verdi Lisa Elias Lisa Elias has been singing for over 25 years. She has been a member of the St. Joseph’s Church choir for several years, and is also a former member of the Sacred Heart Church choir. Over a span of 20+ years, Lisa has been lead singer and co-lead singer of several local bands, including: In Touch, Lipstick -N- Leather, Head Strong, Guilty Pleasures and Just N Kace. She has made guest appearances with other local bands, such as Live Wire and Fly By Night and has past experience as a judge in other talent contests.

BerkshireEagle.com

Mary Verdi is a Berkshire singer/songwriter who has sung at the Pentagon, Fenway Park and the Colonial Theatre. Her rendition of “We are Called” reached the number one position on iTunes. After attending Belmont University, she started her career as Reba McEntire’s assistant and has made a career in the music business ever since. She currently tours with her Flight Trio in the Northeast featuring songs from her sixth CD, “Flight”. She is also the Music Director at Sacred Heart Church in Pittsfield, Mass. When asked what she will be looking for in this competition? “A spark, a love and music that is sung from the soul! Good luck.”

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Jess Wilson

ADAMS ________________________________________________________________________ Jess Wilson has always loved to sing and has been performing with various bands and groups over the past 25 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from Western Colorado University, and at 33 she decided combine her love of writing and singing by learning to play the guitar and creating her own music. Since that time she has been driven to share her music with others.

When not performing music, Jess works as a Licenced Massage Therapist. She resides in Adams with her family.

Olivia Thiemann

WEST STOCKBRIDGE ____________________________________________________________________________________ Olivia Thiemann first began singing when she received the role of Snow White in her 1st grade operetta. From the moment she opened her mouth on that stage, she instantly fell in love with performing. Now a junior at Monument Mountain High School, Olivia participates in three choirs, advanced drama classes, Shakespeare, and of course, the school musicals. Her sophomore year, Olivia received the lead role of Laurey Williams in “Oklahoma.” She just wrapped up her performances of “Romeo and Juliet” with the Fall Festival of Shakespeare, where she played Juliet Capulet. She recently came in second on The Berkshire Voice, has sung with the Berkshire Children’s chorus for five years, and sings in her school chorus and Monument’s a capella group, The Spartones. She is currently participating in a student film created by her advanced drama class. Her love for singing and performing is ever-growing, and she hopes to pursue this passion through college to a possible career.

Olivia lives with her sister Anika, her mom, dad, and her little dog Tucker in West Stockbridge, constantly dreaming of getting away and making it big in New York City. She hopes that this opportunity will push her career forward.

Gerald Hill

BerkshireEagle.com

PITTSFIELD ________________________________________________________________________

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Gerald Hill began singing in the church’s choir at the age of nine. Throughout his life he has learned to play various instruments and continues to minister through music. Hill is a proud member of The New Prodical Sons. His goal is to open a music school to mold young performers.

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Jalisa Jessup

PITTSFIELD ________________________________________________________________________

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Jalisa Jessup, also known as Bgirl Sazz, is a 12-year-old girl from Pittsfield, who breakdances. She has been breaking for a year and five months with The Funk Box Crew. Jalisa was originally inspired by watching her little brother Beast Boi, and now teacher Andres Ramirez’s class. She has made a name for herself already as a bgirl in the breakdancing crowd by winning multiple competitions. One of her biggest accomplishments was entering the Competitive Breaking League, which is a statewide competition where she placed fourth with her brother. Jalisa’s dream is to someday be in the Youth Olympics for breakdancing now that it is an actual sport starting in 2018.

When not breaking or at dance class and competitions, Jalisa practices daily and also plays on a basketball team.

Berkshire County’s Got Talent

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Tanisha Adams

PITTSFIELD ________________________________________________________________________ Tanisha Adams has been singing since she was a young child. Born in Pittsfield, she performed in elementary school talent shows, and in middle school joined Reid Middle School’s choir. In high school, she was part of the Pittsfield High School cheerleading team up until her senior year, when she transferred to Hoosac Valley High School and joined the Hoosac cheerleading team. Singing was put on hold up until recently.

Now, with the stage name Chelle, she covers songs of her favorite artists and hopes to audition for The Voice. When not singing, she works as a nurse’s aide at Berkshire Medical Center, is a mother and writes her own songs.

Berkshire Hills Chorus

PITTSFIELD ____________________________________________________________________

BerkshireEagle.com

Throughout its 50 year history, the Berkshire Hills Chorus has performed a capella music in the community through a number of successful ticketed performances and shows each year. The 25 women of the BHC, a chapter of Sweet Adeline’s International, take pride in singing across Berkshire County at various community events. They sing Christmas carols at nursing homes each year, have performed the national anthem at local sporting events and even had the opportunity to sing on the grounds during Tanglewood on Parade. They also compete regionally, each year, against other Sweet Adeline groups from New England, and have earned top three spots in the last several years.

The members of the Berkshire Hills Chorus share a unique sisterhood and friendships that span all different ages and backgrounds. Most importantly, they love to sing!

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Emily Young PITTSFIELD ________________________________________________________________________ Emily Young is a singer originally from the Boston area who has moved to Pittsfield. She has been working on her talent since she was a young kid, every year improving just a little bit more. Emily was inspired to start her talent as she fell in love with poetry but wanted to put it to music. She writes all her own songs as well.

One day, Emily hopes to be a successful songwriter and/or performer. When not performing or singing, Emily likes to spend time with friends, family and her pet kitten Forest.

Chad Tarves DALTON ________________________________________________________________________ Chad Tarves is a singer-songwriter, composer, sound engineer and teacher. He graduated from Johnson State College (now Northern Vermont University) in 2017 with a Bachelors in Fine Arts Music, with a concentration in vocals. Chad has performed in many venues throughout New England and New York. His cross-genre songwriting brings new themes of love, hope and loss as well as colorful lyrics that anyone can relate too. Chad was inspired to become a singer/songwriter by the singer/songwriters who helped him through difficult times in his life (i.e. Jason Mraz and Rob Thomas). His goal is to use his music to help others not feel alone in their struggles. Chad also hopes to help make the music community in the Berkshires stronger through setting up events for musicians to network and discuss music in the area. He currently is doing this by creating an event called The Berkshire County Music Town Hall that intends to run monthly.

You can find out more about Chad and his music at chadtarvesmusic.com

Nick Swain (Inswain)

BerkshireEagle.com

PITTSFIELD ________________________________________________________________________

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Nick Swain (Inswain) has been rapping for almost ten years, but has only recently begun to release studio quality songs on platforms such as iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music.

Inswain has toured all over New England and has performed with some big name rappers. He won a rapping competition on WBRK Star 101.7 and can be heard on several radio stations throughout the country. Since he began his journey, he has released three projects in the form of CDs, and is in the process of releasing a new song every single week. Inswain focuses on poetic lyrics with a message, which sets him apart from your stereotypical rapper.

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Christine Bile

PITTSFIELD _____________________________________________________________________________

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Christine Bile has been singing out and about for as long as she can remember. Through all her years of elementary, middle and high school, singing was the primary thing she would engage in through classes for voice and chorus at school. Christine also taught herself how to play guitar to accompany her voice. Christine has been a vocal music teaching assistant at the Rock On summer music camp in the Berkshires. She has performed during various Third Thursdays in Pittsfield, at the Colonial Theater, and at various other venues in the Berkshires. Christine has also been the lead singer in a band called Constant Change.

Christine won Berkshire Idol in 2012 and won Best Pop Song during her freshman year in college. She is currently in college, pursuing her Masters in Social Work. She hopes to merge her love for music with her work in social work to aid clients through their journeys!

Berkshire County’s Got Talent

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Sophie Lane

NORTH ADAMS ________________________________________________________________________ Sophie Lane is a 17-year-old jack of many trades. She grew up busking outside Mass MoCA and playing gigs in her hometown of North Adams. In 2013, she won first place in Berkshire Idol in her division. This proved to her that she could make her dream of performing a career.

Sophie quickly learned she had a talent for piano, ukulele and composing. She began to write her own songs and learn as many classic broadway tunes on piano as she could.

Her love for musical theatre led her to compose, direct, and star in her own musical during her junior year at Buxton School in Williamstown, MA. She hopes to add her name to the all too brief list of female composers on Broadway someday, and never stop performing.

Boxxa Vine

MONTEREY ________________________________________________________________________

BerkshireEagle.com

Boxxa Vine is Montery’s premier (and only) drag queen with a flair for the dramatic and comedic. With six pageant titles under her belt (Miss Gay Western Mass., Boston Mass., Capital N.Y., Camp Capital N.Y., Werrrk.com, and Berkshire Mass. Emeritus), many competition wins (most recently, Bragging Rights in Providence R.I., Dueling Divas Albany N.Y., the first Star Search at EGO Providence, Polo Club Drag Wars, Partners Cafe Drag Wars, and more) and her skill behind a sewing machine, she is a force to be reckoned with in competition. You can find her around Berkshire County hosting her Game Night (Otto’s in Pittsfield and Fuel in Great Barrington), monthly Dinner drag shows, private parties, and weddings in her self made and over the top sewing creations.

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Madelyn Gardner

PITTSFIELD _____________________________________________________________________________ Madelyn Gardner has been attempting to entertain people for the past 26 years. One time her mother lost her in a TJ Maxx and found her tap dancing for some strangers. Originally hailing from New Jersey, Madelyn has been singing since the age of 6. She began doing stand-up comedy in April of 2016 because a lot of weird things happened to her and she wasn’t great at tap dancing.

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Below, please mark your choice for the best performer in this year’s Berkshire 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.

Berkshire County’s Got Talent

Official ballot

| Wednesday, December 12, 2018

1. Jess Wilson

2. Olivia Thiemann

3. Gerald Hill

4. Jalisa Jessup

5. Tanisha Adams

6. hills Chorus

7. Emily Young

8. Chad Tarves

9. Nick Swain

10. Christine Bile

11. Sophie Lane

12. Boxxa Vine

Berkshire

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