2011 UTT Photos

Congratulations to the 2011 UTT Winners!

The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre was filled to capacity Saturday evening, August 6th for the 2011 United Teens Talent (UTT) Show. Twenty-three of the Kalamazoo area's most talented youth competed for a $1,500 in cash prizes in a talent show of magnificent proportions, featuring area 13-19 year olds from the Kalamazoo area in varied performance discipline.

Each student received professional coaching from some of Kalamazoo's most recognized performing arts professionals - Ben Zylman, Marie Kerstetter and Kathryn Williams in preparation for Saturday night's performance. In addition to their own act, the students participated in two group numbers that opened and closed the show.

The 2011 winners are:

1st Place - Dasan Mitchell, Magnificent Hanana, Nikia Jackson and Derek Smith. Combining percussion and West African dance, these four talented students who were part of the Maple Street dance program and now attend Loy Norrix High School, brought thunderous cheers from the crowd with their original performance of Till the World End.

2nd Place - Joriah Flemin. Back for his second year as a member of United Teens Talent, Fleming, a 14 year old Loy Norrix High School student wrote and sang and original song, Alive!. In addition to singing and songwriting, Fleming recorded his own accompaniment track for the song.

3rd Place - Holly Jones. Making her third appearance in United Teens Talent, Jones choreographed an original dance piece to the song Perfect People. Jones, a Kalamazoo RESA Education for the Arts dance student, will be attending Anderson University this fall majoring in dance

4th Place - Haylee Cornett and Matt Weddo. With music in their blood, 19 year old 2010 Vicksburg High School graduate Haylee Cornett and Vicksburg High School Junior, Matt Weddon say their love of music brought them together for a vocal/piano duet of Turning Tables. Cornett's goal is to work for a record label after college. Weddon plans to pursue a career as a professional pianist or professor of piano.

Jeffy Awad was also awarded the Shining Star Award for the student that most represents all that United Teens Talent upholds - teamwork, professionalism and integrity.

"Every year we have an outstanding group of talented teens who amaze us every day with their passion to perform and their ability to focus not only on their own acts but, as an important member of a very special group", said Mary Blakely, UTT Show creator and producer. Adds Blakely, "From the feedback I received from members of the audience, everyone had their favorites and they were amazed at the amount of talent that was presented. To those of us involved in UTT, all the kids are winners!"

United Teen Talent is organized by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, and supported by the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation.