13th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Chooses 14 High School Acts for Final Event

13th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Chooses 14 High School Acts for Final Event

Bi-state area high school students compete for scholarships & prizes at a free family event at The Fabulous Fox on Saturday, April 8

On February 26, 49 metro area high school acts competed in the semi-final round of the 13th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. The acts were divided into four categories (vocal, instrumental, dance and specialty) and adjudicated by nine St. Louis performing arts professionals, each representing the respective categories. The judges narrowed the field to 14 acts (22 students) who will move on to the finals at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 pm.

The final competition is a professionally produced production the Foundation is grateful to provide as a gift to the community that is FREE and open to the public. General Admission tickets are required and are available now at no charge through Metrotix online at metrotix.com and the Fox Box Office. The following finalists include a variety of singers, musicians, dancers, and acrobats:

Rayquan Strickland / Singer, Songwriter / Senior at Centra VPA

Ava Hettenhausen / Singer / Junior at O’Fallon Township High School  

Ariana Kroegger / Singer / Senior at Clayton High School

Noah Van Ess / Singer, Pianist / Senior at Lindbergh High School

Cortland English / Singer / Junior at O’Fallon Township High School

Kyla Gerhardt / Singer / Senior at Granite City High School

Anna Layher / Circus Arts / Senior at Nerinx Hall High School

Kyleigh McCourt / Baton Twirler / Junior at Mehlville High School

Saisha Bhutani / Traditional Indian Dancer / Junior at Clayton High School

Avery Payne / Dancer / Sophomore at Orchard Farm High School

Cats Jazz Collective / Jazz Band/ Sophomore, Juniors, and Seniors at Webster Groves High School

Cindy Yan / Pianist / Junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School

Yrwin Batan / Pianist / Junior at St. Louis Priory High School

Drum Warriors Ensemble / Drummers / Junior at Grand Center Arts Academy; Junior at Collegiate School of Medicine and Bio Science; Sophomore at Clayton High School; Junior at Carnahan High School

“We’ve got a fantastic group of students this year! I’m looking forward to seeing these talented teens on the Fox stage! The students seem to get better and better each year,” exclaimed Mary Strauss, Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation Board President. 

In addition to the excitement of performing on the Fox Stage, contestants are eligible to win scholarships, prizes, and performance opportunities. Nearly $50,000 in prizes, cash awards and college scholarships will be distributed among the top competitors. A full list of prizes along with official event information can be found on the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation’s (FPACF) website.  

The Finals production will be directed by St. Louisan Lee Anne Mathews, a veteran Equity actor of international stages, longtime director, COCA educator and current artistic director with Westport Playhouse. Mathews will work with choreographer Yvonne Meyer Hare and music director Steve Neale to prepare performers for the Fox Stage. 

Finalist acts will be judged on technical ability, interpretation, stage presence, and originality. Judges for the finals have careers spanning music, dance, and Broadway. A complete list of final round judges is available on the FoxPACF website.  

The community response to this event has been significant as the program has grown over the past thirteen years. Annually viewers have watched the Nine PBS featured program on the final competition. FoxPACF is grateful for the continued partnership with Nine PBS, which will film the 2023 Finals in front of a live audience for a special broadcast to air later this spring.

The 2022 co-winners, Aubory Bugg, a homeschooled vocalist and guitarist and “Trifecta,” the circus tumbling troupe, will return this year for special performances. A complete list of winners and finalists from the past eleven years can be found on the FoxPACF website.  

PLEASE NOTE: 

All seating is general admission. There is a limit of 10 tickets per transaction. Seating is first-come-first-seated and is not guaranteed. The theater will be over-sold to ensure a full house. Please, arrive early.

Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation fosters, promotes, and encourages young people in the St. Louis region to discover and participate in the joy and wonder of live performances.

In addition to the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation also produces a variety of other performing arts programs including Kids’ Night at the Fabulous Fox, Broadway Master Classes, Educational Encores, and is a producing partner of the St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards.

Two Acts Tie for Teen Talent Competition Crown at The Fox

Two Acts Tie for Teen Talent Competition Crown at The Fox

Aubory Bugg homeschool student from Granite City and Trifecta homeschool students from Ferguson tied for the 1st Place $8,000 prize.

On February 11, the fourteen finalists of the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition competed live on stage at the Fabulous Fox. Students vied for $50,000 in college scholarships, cash awards and special prizes. A full list of prizes and winners along with official event information can be found on the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation’s  website. This year’s competition winners were revealed at the conclusion of the event.

$8,000 First place prize underwritten by Ameren Corporation Charitable Trust

Aubory Bugg. ProPhotoSTL.

Aubory Bugg, Vocalist & Guitarist
Homeschool
Performing “Dancing in the Streets” by Stephen Day

Trifecta, Partner Acrobatics

Dennis Bailey, Eliot Bailey, and Ethan Ryan

Homeschool

Performing to “Three for the Win” by Dr. Jeffery Carter


$6,000 Second place prize underwritten by John Russell

Noah Van Ess, Vocalist
Lindbergh High School

Performing “Let It Sing” from the musical Violet by Jeanine Tesori & Brian Crawley

$4,000 Third place prize underwritten by Sally Johnston
Tony Pittman, Contemporary Dancer
Fort Zumwalt East High School

Tony Pittman. ProPhotoSTL

Performing to “Earthquake” by Andries de Haan

The $1,000 cash Audience Choice Award went to dancer Hannah Stebe from Fort Zumwalt High School.

Hannah Stebe. ProPhotoSTL.

The panel of judges are performing arts professionals with careers spanning film, the recording industry, television and Broadway. They judged the acts on interpretation, stage presence, technical ability and originality. The professionally produced show was written and directed by Tony Parise (Broadway actor, dancer, director and choreographer). Acts were also advised by musical director Stephen Neale, and choreographer Yvonne Meyer Hare (Professional Dance Center).

The Finals were filmed by Nine PBS for a special St. Louis Teen Talent Competition program scheduled to air on Monday, April 11 at 7 pm. 

This special presentation will give a wider audience the opportunity to see St. Louis’ talented teens perform. The Competition will also be available to stream online at ninepbs.org/teentalent later this spring.

The 13th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition will take place on April 8, 2023. Pre-registration for the competition is now open. Additional information about this event and other programs can be found at the Foundation’s website.

Noah Van Ess. ProPhotoSTL

Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation fosters, promotes, and encourages young people in the

St. Louis region to discover and participate in the joy and wonder of live performances.

In addition to the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation also produces a variety of other performing arts programs that focus on youth including Kids’ Night at the Fabulous Fox, Broadway Master Classes, Educational Encores, Audition Workshops,
and is a producing partner of the St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards.

9th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Announces Call for Entries

9th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Announces Call for Entries

2019 Event Provides Scholarships, Instructional, Educational &
Performance Opportunities for St. Louis Metro Area High School Students
Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation (FoxPACF) is pleased to announce the 9th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition.  Registration is FREE and is NOW OPEN ONLINE at foxpacf.org for all performing arts high school students in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.  Students will be vying for more than $40,000 in college scholarships, cash awards, and prizes as well as performance opportunities. Contestants must be enrolled in the 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade in the 2018-2019 school year and must attend a high school/home school within a 50-mile bi-state radius from the Arch.

More than 225 high schools and performing arts organizations in the St. Louis metro area received details about the 9th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. Registration is open through December 1, 2018. Performing arts categories include (but are not limited to): Singer, Actor, Musician, Dancer, Band, Comedian, Magician, Circus Act or Specialty Act–which may include up to six students performing as a group and can perform original or published material. “We hope students who are passionate about the performing arts will register for the competition,” said Jim Weidman, President of the FoxPACF Board of Directors.
A “What It’s All About” Pre-Registration Seminar will be held in October of 2018 to provide an overview of the entire experience for anyone interested in competing.  Once registered, students will also have access to Pre-Competition Workshops that delve deeper into the auditioning process, audition techniques, etiquette, song choice, attire, etc. Registration for all workshops is available online at foxpacf.org.
Judges for both the Preliminary and Semi-final competitions are professionals representing a cross-section of the St. Louis performing arts community and entertainment industry who give constructive performance advice to each act individually.  Each round of competition will have a panel of at least three judges who will adjudicate and advance acts to the next round. Acts will be judged on technical ability, interpretation, stage presence and originality. Professional insight regarding auditioning tips and techniques along with scholarship opportunities throughout every level of the competition benefit for any high school student looking to improve their performance skills and education.
The Preliminary Round will be held in early February 2019 and the Semi-final Round will be held in March 2019.  The final competition on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at The Fabulous Fox is a professionally staged production, adjudicated by both St. Louis and national performing arts professionals. This final event is free and open to the public.
In addition to the $8,000 – 1st Place, $6,000 – 2nd Place, and $4,000 – 3rd Place scholarships awarded at the finals, restricted scholarship opportunities to Lindenwood University, Southeast Missouri State University, Webster University and University of Missouri-St. Louis will also be available to students taking part in the competition. Each finalist will also be eligible for unique public performance opportunities within the St. Louis area.
Finalists from the past eight years have performed at The Muny, National Dance Week, Taste of Maplewood, Gateway Grizzlies, Shakespeare Festival, Chamber Music Society of St. Louis, Winter Opera St. Louis and The Rising Stars Showcase. Highlights and winning performances from the 2011 through 2018 events are currently posted on our YouTube and SchoolTube channels and provide viewers a glimpse of what the competition is all about.
“We have been thrilled with the response to this event from students, parents, arts organizations and the community.  The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation is uniquely positioned to provide the opportunity for students to perform at the Fox and on other stages around St. Louis. We are pleased that we are able to put talented young people in the spotlight,” said Mary Strauss, creator of the competition.
Call for Entries9th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent CompetitionDEADLINE: December 1, 2018Register on-line: https://www.foxpacf.org/programs/teen-talent-competition/
For additional information about this and other Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation events, please visitwww.foxpacf.org