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JBSA News
NEWS | Feb. 23, 2012

UGT contest showcases young performers' talents

By Robert Goetz Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

A variety of acts - from singers and guitar players to dancers and even a cup stacker - graced the stage of the Airman and Family Readiness Center ballroom Feb. 17 for the 15th annual You Got Talent Family and Teen Talent Contest.

An estimated 130 people attended the show, which featured 21 acts, including young singers who performed hits by chart toppers such as Adele, Taylor Swift and Alicia Keys and a father-and-son guitar duo who tackled Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."

"It was a great show," Andrea Black, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Youth Programs coordinator, said. "I couldn't believe the level of talent. The judges had hard decisions to make."

First-place winners were chosen in seven categories. They included the guitar duo Dave and Logan Marttala in the family performance category; Rylee, Sharlee, Baylee and Everett Krkosa, who performed Swift's "Never Grow Up " in the teen group category; teen specialty performer Rebekah Landry, who accompanied herself on guitar while singing "Rhythm of Love" by the Plain White T's; Claire Jones in the children's category, who sang Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive"; pre-teen group act Katryna and Logan Marttala, who performed Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain"; Jazmine White, who sang "Fix a Heart" by Demi Lovato in the teen vocal category; and pre-teen soloist Katryna Marttala, who sang Beyonce's "Listen."

Winners at the JBSA-Randolph contest advance to the Air Force-wide competition, where their performances will be judged and first-, second- and third-place winners in eight categories will be announced. First-place winners may be invited to perform with the Air Force's Tops in Blue when the troupe visits the winners' installation.

Black said some of the JBSA-Randolph contestants are scheduled to perform at the Youth Programs' annual Famaganza, which is planned for April 14.

Last year, JBSA-Randolph performers placed in the Air Force competition. The dance team of Madison Trimble and Sharlee Krkosa earned second place in the pre-teen group category and the dance team of Jessyca Wooffard, Desire Finney, Brittney London, Khamari Culmer, Savaun Paige, Meliyah Tyus, Faith Woods, Beyonce Johnson and Breyana Gadson finished third in the teen group category.

The Air Force Services Agency conducts the UGT competition, which is part of the Nell Buckley Performing Arts Series, to "provide additional opportunities for families and youth to participate jointly in a recreational/educational activity, contribute to developing creative expression, provide the opportunity for the development of meaningful relationships with peers and adults and develop an appreciation of the arts."

The competition is open to families and youth who are eligible to use installation facilities.