New crop set to show that Valley’s Got Talent

Talent, talent everywhere and not an end in sight.

Now in its sixth year, Modesto’s largest talent competition continues to find new performers to fill its stage. Twenty-six acts have been selected as the finalists for the annual “Valley’s Got Talent” show Aug. 28 and 29 at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Of those, 20 are new to the show, offering audiences a fresh look at some the region’s best singers, dancers, musicians and more. Gallo Center for the Arts Chief Executive Officer Lynn Dickerson said she isn’t surprised by the continued quality of the entertainers who come to compete.

“There are so many talented people out there, and many never get a chance to show their stuff. The emergence of ‘America’s Got Talent,’ ‘The Voice’ and those kinds of shows has encouraged many wannabe artists to take a chance with shows such as ours,” Dickerson said. “‘Valley’s Got Talent’ offers a performance opportunity for gifted people who might not otherwise ever have a chance to be discovered.”

The categories remain the same: vocal, dance, instrumental, band and specialty. Finalists range in age from 10 to 60 with close to half competing as singing acts. This year’s wide-ranging specialty category will include acrobatic, magic illusion, specialty dance and spoken-word performers.

Returning again to judge this year will be Modesto native and Emmy-winning casting director Robert Ulrich, known for his work on shows such as “Glee,” “CSI” and “American Horror Story.” Rounding out the panel of judges will be past Gallo Center board of directors chairwoman Britta Foster, president emerita Marie Gallo and arts education coordinator Jim Johnson as well as Modesto Bee editor Joe Kieta, KHOP and KWIN program director MoJoe Roberts and YES Company founding director Melanee Wyatt.

“Having Robert Ulrich involved as a judge from the start has been a wonderful thing. He’s such a magnanimous guy who loves our area and genuinely likes to help young people make connections,” Dickerson said.

Indeed, past winners of the show have gone on to perform professionally throughout the region and even beyond. Inaugural “Valley’s Got Talent” winner Lindsay Pearce now works in Hollywood. She was runner-up on “The Glee Project,” had a recurring role on “Glee” and has since had guest-starring roles on TV shows from “Grey’s Anatomy” to “Drop Dead Diva.” She is also set to appear as a recurring character in the new ABC Family series “Recovery Road,” which will debut next year.

The other past winners of “Valley’s Got Talent” have been Francesca Bavaro in 2011, The Sensations and Stop Motion Poetry in 2012 and Shelly Bort in 2013 and Alida McKeon and Carolina Stevens in 2014.

The “Valley’s Got Talent” 2015 finalists are:

▪ Vocal: Marissa Anaya, Iraya Cress, Holly Durham, Ryan Hammond, Mario and Liliana Hernandez, Desireé Juanes, Tarae McQueen, Jessica Neuffer and Theresa Ramirez, Evan Olmos, Andrew Rosenblum, Sarah Snyder, Natalie Woodfield

▪ Dance: The Dance Factory, Juline Regional Youth Ballet, Luso-American Youth Council #24, MJC Off-Balance Dance Company

▪ Instrumental: Dugan & Soto (electric guitar, drums), Gustavo & Brothers (violins, piano), Roy Mendiola (piano)

▪ Specialty: Acro Continuum (acrobats), Harry Brown (magic illusion), The Golden Men (specialty dance), Sam Pierstorff (spoken word)

▪ Band: Better Left Said, Live Again, Three on the Tree

The “Valley’s Got Talent” competition is split each year into two performances. The Friday night show will be for audience voting. Then the acts return for a repeat performance Saturday night, when the final results will be revealed. The show has drawn hundreds of friends, families and fans out each year to cheer on the local talent. Dickerson said while lots of people first come to “Valley’s Got Talent” to root on a particular act, they end up leaving wowed by all that the area has to offer.

“After they see the show, they are hooked and usually come again the next year,” she said. “And there’s a certain amount of wanting to support local talent in play.”

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 12:42 PM with the headline "New crop set to show that Valley’s Got Talent."