Madera’s Got Talent returns

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

Contestant Max Sandoval performs during auditions for the Madera's Got Talent competition.

Madera South High School Theater Company will present the fourth annual Madera’s Got Talent at 4 p.m., Sept. 14. The show is expected to last about two or three hours, said Alicia Gonzalez, one of the advisors on the project.

The program will be staged by the Madera Leo Club, a high school service club in conjunction with and sponsored by the Madera Lions Club. The show will be held in the Madera South High School Theater Complex.

The contest is open to students of kindergarten through 12th grade who attend Madera Schools.

Auditions were held Aug. 27, and 19 students qualified to perform at the competition. They range in age from fourth-grader and singer Eliana Cantu to 12th grader Maribel Juarez, who sings and plays the ukulele.

Local civic leaders have been selected as judges for the competition. These include Madera Police Chief Dino Lawson, Madera South High School Drama Coach Ginger Latimer, MUSD Superintendent Todd Lile, MSHS Principal Oracio Rodrigues, MSHS Choir Master Roger Harabedian and Work Experience Coordinator Tim Riche.

Talent coordinators for the event are Stephani Perez, Chris Hansen, Abel Perez, Darlene Garcia, Ruth Nishimoto and Alicia Gonzalez.

Rehearsals for the show will be held at 5 p.m. Sept. 10 and 12 in the Madera South High School Theater Arts building.

Judges will award monetary prizes and trophies in first, second and third place in two divisions comprised of the younger performers, and to the older performers as well.

Winners of the contest have been invited to perform at the upcoming Pomegranate Festival. Opportunities to perform at other venues and festivals will be explored.

Act 1 Contestants

Eliana Cantu, fourth grade, Pershing Elementary, singer

Max Sandoval, sixth grade, Rose Elementary, singer

Vincent Rodriguez, sixth grade, Sherman Thomas, Piano

Samantha Riché, fifth grade, Lincoln Elementary, singer

Isaac Beltran, sixth grade, Adams Elementary, piano

Nova Krumm, 6th grade, Adams Elementary, piano

Jazzlyn Padilla, eighth grade, Sherman Thomas School, singer

Evian Triado, 10th grade, Crescent View, singer

Jonathan Renteria, 11th grade, Madera South High School, dance

Act II Contestants

Rebekah Mendoza, seventh grade, Tafoya Alvarado School, singer