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2014 Talent Challenge Winners

May 19th, 2014


We had a blast at the 61st Sertoma Chicken BBQ!  The weather was beautiful, the chicken was delicious and the entertainment on the Weaver’s Garage Stage was unbeatable!  (Click here to see our photos from the day.)

Congratulations to the Top 3 winners in the 2014 Talent Challenge, as voted by the audience:

1st Place: Super Marimbros, William and Caleb (marimba players)

2nd Place: The Sentimentals (a cappella vocal ensemble)

3rd Place: Sarah, Faith, Carter  (Irish Dancers)

Prizes were made possible by DavCo Advertising, meeting printing and promotional product needs from concept to completion. 800-283-2826




  1. Samantha Raffensberger
    April 17th, 2014 at 16:19 | #1

    For singers, do we have to write our own song? Or could we cover a song?

  2. kristi
    April 17th, 2014 at 16:29 | #2

    You can cover a song OR do an original–either way is acceptable, Samantha!

  3. Gabriel Pyszka
    April 17th, 2014 at 21:17 | #3

    Can I bring my own equipment?

  4. kristi
    April 18th, 2014 at 14:55 | #4

    What kind of equipment, Gabriel? We set up a stage and run sound and have mics and cables…

  5. Priscila
    April 18th, 2014 at 17:11 | #5

    If we are singing to a vocal track, what’s the best way to bring our audio for the live performance? CD, itune? USB?

  6. kristi
    April 18th, 2014 at 17:17 | #6

    Hi Priscila! If you are chosen as a contestant, CD is probably the easiest way. 🙂

  7. Gabriel Pyszka
    April 19th, 2014 at 13:51 | #7

    I mean I have electric drums I will audition and play with. Can I use those electric drums?

  8. kristi
    April 21st, 2014 at 13:50 | #8

    Sure, Gabriel–we could accommodate electric drums if you’re chosen as one of the contestants!

  9. Katlyn Atkins
    April 21st, 2014 at 14:54 | #9

    I was in it last year, but I did not place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. Am I still eligible to enter?

  10. kristi
    April 21st, 2014 at 14:56 | #10

    Hi Katlyn–yep, if you didn’t take home a prize, you are eligible to enter again!

  11. Katlyn Atkins
    April 21st, 2014 at 20:04 | #11

    Got it. Thanks Kristi! I am submitting my video now. 🙂

  12. Lauren Mullis
    April 22nd, 2014 at 17:17 | #12

    Are there any rules against fire juggling/dancing?

  13. kristi
    April 22nd, 2014 at 17:20 | #13

    There are no rules against it, Lauren! We have had fire involved in juggling in the past and it has gone just fine. I would just add that this is a family event, so safety and modesty would be good considerations. 🙂

  14. April 22nd, 2014 at 20:13 | #14

    Hello. I am in a local praise and worship band Fellow Heirs. I was wondering if your talent challenge would be a place for a full band (drums, 2 guitars, bass, violin, keyboard, vocals) or are you looking for smaller, more acoustic groups?

  15. kristi
    April 23rd, 2014 at 12:50 | #15

    Hi Will! We’ve been able to accommodate groups of that size in the past, so yes! 😀

  16. Gabriel Pyszka
    April 23rd, 2014 at 13:42 | #16

    Do our acts have to be a certain amount of time?

  17. kristi
    April 23rd, 2014 at 14:15 | #17

    Good question, Gabriel! We typically like to keep it to about 10 minutes maximum on the day-of. We also have musicians do only one song. (Or one medley, as long as it isn’t over 10 minutes.) Hope that helps!

  18. Robin Dermo
    April 23rd, 2014 at 19:15 | #18

    I do ventriloquism. What is the best way to to audition with something like that?

  19. kristi
    April 24th, 2014 at 10:47 | #19

    Fun, Robin! A video would be great. It doesn’t have to be super high quality–we just need to see what you’d do if we gave you a 10 minute slot on stage.

  20. kim
    April 29th, 2014 at 12:46 | #20

    I live in Ohio, can I still enter?

  21. kristi
    April 29th, 2014 at 12:52 | #21

    Hi Kim! The Talent Challenge is open to all WJTL listeners. It would be important to be certain you could make the trip in case you are chosen as one of the contestants.

  22. sarah
    May 4th, 2014 at 11:29 | #22

    If we are sending an entry as an e-mail how would you like the parents permission? Also is it alright if the video is sideways?

  23. kristi
    May 5th, 2014 at 08:29 | #23

    Hi Sarah! Great questions. Please just mention that the parents have given permission. We will take your word for it–and if you are chosen as a contestant, would run it by your parents first to make sure. If it is possible to get the video to not be sideways, that would be great! But if you can’t find the option to change it, it won’t disqualify you. I hope those answers help!

  24. Emily
    May 5th, 2014 at 17:55 | #24

    I filmed my video using my dads iPod and it is only four or five minutes but it is saying it is too long to email. Can I send it in numerous peices

  25. Adriana
    May 5th, 2014 at 21:51 | #25

    Will a wma file work?

  26. kristi
    May 6th, 2014 at 08:22 | #26

    Hi Emily–please try to send it in one piece! If you need to post it to Youtube or send it via a site like Dropbox, that’s okay with us.

  27. kristi
    May 6th, 2014 at 08:23 | #27

    Hi Adriana! We prefer that it be converted to an .mp3, but if you aren’t able to do that, we can accept the wma file.

  28. Richard
    May 12th, 2014 at 09:35 | #28

    Hi, I have been selected to be one of the contestant but I forgot to mention that my Mom and dad play the instruments while I sing. Will they be able to assist me?

  29. kristi
    May 12th, 2014 at 13:21 | #29

    Absolutely, Richard! I’ll email you to talk about it!

  30. Teresa
    May 18th, 2014 at 10:40 | #30

    who placed? I couldn’t be there yesterday.

  31. Zane Brown
    May 19th, 2014 at 17:45 | #31

    Hey KRISTI, will there be videos posted by wjtl of the individual contestant performances up anytime soon? alot of people who missed the event due to traffic and timing would love to tune in and view what was captured.

  32. kristi
    May 20th, 2014 at 13:55 | #32

    We’re working on them, Zane! We’ll have something up soon. 🙂

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