Opera singer Candice Meras of Santa Maria took home the winner’s trophy and a $1,000 check Saturday night in the second annual Santa Maria Has Talent competition at Santa Maria Veteran’s Hall.
Ballerina Chaye Jackson won second place, and 9-year-old singer Sydney Sugars won third place.
In the people’s choice award, “Santa Maria’s Favorite,” singing duo Sandra Woo and Barbara Wilson won the $500 prize with Ray Stevens’ “Mississippi Squirrel Revival.”
Meras, this year’s winner, sang “Tu che di gel sei cinta” by Puccini. She was accompanied by Joe Payne, Sun calendar editor and also an award winner with his piano rendition of “Georgia on My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael.
Another crowd favorite was harmonica player Peter Gift, who won the “Best Instrumentalist Award.” Gift was also part of a three-way tie with songwriters Heather Brown and Cloe Flojo for “Best Original Song.”
Ballerina Kaylee Lewis took home the “Outstanding Achievement in Dance” award, and opera singer George Majoue won “Outstanding Achievement in Singing.”
More than 50 artists of all ages who live or work in Santa Maria, Guadalupe, Nipomo, and Lompoc participated in the competition. Those 50 were chosen by audition.
Arts Briefs is compiled by Arts Editor Shelly Cone. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Apr 14-21, 2011.