MARYSVILLE According to Strawberry Festival Talent Show organizer Marcy Giesler, the caliber of competition at the annual Talent Show has improved year after year in the time she has been affiliated with the competition.
Of the sixty-some people who tried out at this years auditions, 31 made the cut for the June 14 performance at the Marysville-Pilchuck High School auditorium. From there, prizes were handed out in 10 categories.
Stanwood High School oboe player John Farrey took first overall and in the category Vocal-Instrumental 17 to Adult for a performance of Sonata for Oboe and Piano with accompanist Iris Ingram.
Though the win earned Farrey a place of honor in the Strawberry Festival Grand Parade and a gift bag including such prizes as a Team Fitness membership, Farrey will not likely serve on the judging panel next year as 2006 winner Laurie Miller did this year.
Michael Jackson proved a fortunate choice of muse for two young dancers as four-year-old Keaona Marie Gordon and seven-year-old Kyler Gordon won the vocal-dance category for their respective age groups with performances of Beat It and Bad.
In another case it was the same lucky song for two different performances Some Days You Gotta Dance won Camille White and Andraya Albright honors for their tap dancing, while Chelsea Stevens sang the same tune all the way to recognition in the 13-16 vocal category.
Aspiring football player Calvin White wowed the judges and audience with his musical talent, taking first place in the Vocal-Instrumental 12-13 category for his classical piano solo Sacro-Monte.
Giesler credited the festivals regional fame for the Talent Shows annually improving quality as auditions draw singers, dancers and a variety of other talents from around the county.
We get better and better talent. They come from Stanwood, Lakewood, Snohomish, Lake Stevens. We had one from Lynnwood and Mill Creek, Giesler said. They hear about it and they come out for the audition.
Although the 2007 crop of performers drew from more traditional talent show disciplines such as singing, dancing and musical instruments, past years have seen magic shows and contortionists among the more unusual acts.
That possibility to see almost anything is what Giesler said she thinks makes the Talent Show a perennial draw.
Weve had comedy routines, weve had belly dancers, anything and everything.
And its open for any kind of talent, she said. Its just something for everybody to come out and enjoy. Its for all ages.

Winners
Vocal-Dance 4-5
Keaona Marie Gordon for a jazz dance performance of Beat It.

Vocal-Dance 6-7
Kyler Gordon for a jazz dance performance of Bad.

Vocal-Dance 9-10
Serafina Balderas for a hip-hop dance interpretation of Fina-licious.

Vocal-Instrumental 12-13
Calvin White for piano performance of Sacro-Monte.

Dance 7-12
Camille White and Andraya Albright for tap dance to Some Days You Gotta Dance.

Vocal 13-16
Chelsea Stevens for singing Some Days You Gotta Dance.

Dance group
Abigail Hau, Gabby Ramirez, Elizabeth Dowdle, Brielle Sydow, Alicia Hawkins, Ashley Hawkins and Shyann Young for The Ribbon Dance.

Vocal 17
Jennifer Pankey for singing Black Horse & The Cherry Tree.

Vocal-Instrumental 17 to adult
John Farrey on oboe and accompanist Iris Ingram for Sonata for Oboe and Piano.

Vocal adult
Lewis Wilson for singing Georgia with accompanist Dorothy Herivel.