Santa Maria Sun / Art

Talent night

BY SHELLY CONE

Top notch Marissa Urzua, 17, of Lompoc, was the talent winner of the night, taking home the $1,000 prize. PHOTO BY DIANE BALAY

The fundraiser—sponsored by Santa Maria Rotary South, with a talent award provided by Coast Hills Credit Union—generated proceeds to be donated to local charitable organizations.

The audience saw 52 acts from performers ranging in age from 3 to 90. With so much talent, judges were hard-pressed to choose just one winner.

“It was wonderful; I was so impressed with all the talent,” said Diane Balay, Rotarian and one of the event’s organizers.

At the end of the night, the challenge came down to a tie between an expertly sung opera song (called “Addio Del Passato”) by Candace Méras and a lively flamenco performance by Marissa Urzua. After a run-off, Lompoc’s Urzua, 17, took home the first place prize.

“It was really exciting,” she said. “When I had to come back on stage the second time, my breath had been taken away.”

Urzua, whose mother owns Garcia Dance Studio in Lompoc, said she’s preparing to perform at the Spirit of Fiesta in Santa Barbara and her winnings will go toward her costume for that event.

“Winning this will really be a relief for my parents because the money will go toward my dress,” she said.

Runner up Méras is owner of Coffee and Company in Santa Maria Town Center West and a music student at Allan Hancock College. She studied voice for a year under opera singer Peter Beneke. Her performance was accompanied by pianist Joseph Payne, who was also a finalist for his original jazz interpretation of Beethoven’s “Fur Elise.” (He’s also calendar editor at the Sun.)

Andrew Marquez was second runner-up in the talent awards for his song “Champion of Love” by Phil and Carolyn Cross. He’s a member of Pacific Christian Center where he’s a soloist, and he works at Santa Maria’s Main Street Shell Gas Station and at Perla Market and Deli.

Judges weren’t the only ones who got to vote for their favorites. The audience members got to cast a popular vote, and Santa Maria’s favorite turned out to be 3-year-old Eli Trevino. Eli is the son of Virginia and Chico Trevino of Santa Maria.

Dressed like Michael Jackson in a white shirt, black hat, shoes, gloves, and glittery socks, little Eli strutted, moonwalked, and performed a complete dance routine to Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”

His $500 award was sponsored by Billie Jo Cravello.

Talent judges for the finals included Superior Court Judge Jed Beebe, professional singer and actor Kitty Balay, KSNI radio DJ and music director Jay Turner, ballroom dance studio owner David King, and Rotarian John Kinney. m

Arts Editor Shelly Cone can moonwalk. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.