Modesto teen singer takes top prize in 10th annual Valley Talent Project
Singer Kalea Jackson won the grand prize at the 10th annual Valley Talent Project before a sold-out crowd at the Gallo Center for the Arts on Saturday night.
The 15-year-old solo singer wowed the crowd to win the E.&J Gallo Winery $3,000 award.
The night’s other winners were:
- Female Vocal Talent Achievement Award ($750): Zoey Rae
- Male Vocal Male Vocal Talent Achievement Award ($750): George Costa Jr.
- Clark & Marion Bradford Dance Solo Talent Achievement Award ($750): Ava Archibeque
- Save Mart Dance Ensemble Talent Achievement Award ($750): Unique Visions Dance Co.
- Instrumental Talent Achievement Award ($750): Jack Douglass
- Specialty Talent Achievement Award ($750): Bennett Vickery
- KHOP Band Talent Achievement Award ($750): Esoteric
- ModestoView Original Music Composition Award ($750): Ladybug by Patty Castillo Davis
- Modesto Bee Audience Favorite Award ($750): Luso-American Youth Council #24
- Paul Tischer Classical Music Scholarship ($750): Katie Elson
- Ryan Dickerson Scholarship for Most Promising Talent Sponsored by The Bob & Marie Gallo Foundation ($500): Lauren Velasco
- Melanee Wyatt Scholarship for Musical Theater Education Sponsored by The Bob & Marie Gallo Foundation ($500): Zoey Rae
The evening was capped by the return of singer Lindsay Pearce, the winner of the very first event — previously titled Valley’s Got Talent — who went on to compete on “The Glee Project,” which at the time was a TV competition to win a spot on the the series “Glee.”
She performed two songs, the second of which was complemented by the dancing of all the contestants, who went through the aisles as Pearce performed, much to the delight of the audience.
Between songs, the popular and smiling Pearce spoke to the audience about how appreciative she was of her return.
This story was originally published August 27, 2019 at 11:00 AM.