2009 Kiwanis Showcase Winners

Winners of the 2009 music competition were clarinetist Anna Darnell - Kiwanis Club of Jones County, $3,500; pianist Kunal Lahiry - Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, $2,500; vocalist Rachel Nicole Walls – Kiwanis Club of Johns Creek, $1,000; and violinist Jonathan Urizar - Kiwanis Club of Smyrna, $500.
Showcase exhibitors awarded scholarships for their art entries were Ariel Norris – Kiwanis Clubs of Alpharetta/Johns Creek, $3,500; Kaitlin Whittle – Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County, $2,500; Katlyn Storey – Kiwanis Club of Rome, $1,000; and Brandon Pruit – Kiwanis Club of Cordele, $500.
Other participants who won plaques for their art entries included: 6th grade, (1st) Anna Pell - Kiwanis Club of LaGrange; (2nd) Olivia Ciepierski - Kiwanis Club of Coweta County; (3rd) KaNena Alford - Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County; 7th grade, (1st) Cathryn Sullivan - Kiwanis Club of Coweta County; (2nd) Adelaide Post - Kiwanis Club of Peachtree City; (3rd) Jordan Byrd, Carrollton Golden K Kiwanis Club; 8th grade, (1st) Tiffany Clifton - Kiwanis Club of Coweta County; (2nd) Andrew D. Thomas III - Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County; (3rd) Kevin Denney - Kiwanis Club of Gainesville; 9th grade, (1st) Phyl Fralic - Kiwanis Clubs Dougherty County; (2nd) Emily DeMario - Kiwanis Club of East Cobb; (3rd) Angela Shen - Kiwanis Club of Smyrna Golden K; 10th grade, (1st) Tess Huntington - Kiwanis Club of East Cobb; (2nd) Megan Hillyer - Kiwanis Club of Coweta County; (3rd) John Wan - Kiwanis Clubs of Alpharetta/Johns Creek; 11th grade, (1st) Devin Clark - Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County; (2nd) Daniel Lara - Kiwanis Club of Coweta County; (3rd) Giovann Wah - Kiwanis Club of Henry County, 12th grade, (1st) Sara Hemingway - Kiwanis Club of Alpharetta/Johns Creek, (2nd) John Murphy - Kiwanis Club of Carrollton; (3rd) Rebecca Ghormley - Kiwanis Clubs of East Cobb.
All of the students who participated in the showcase were winners as they each received a lapel pin to commemorate the occasion as well as a tote bag stuffed with local treasures from the Carrollton community. The lapel pins, award plaques, tote bags, warm-up supplies and reception of refreshments were financed through the various levels of program sponsorships from corporations, individuals, and clubs around the state. Clubs are invited to contribute next year to this wonderful event through a program sponsorship.

Georgia Music Educators Association

Since most music showcase applicants will be involved in Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) events, the following link will provide local showcase chairs with the 2008-09 GMEA calendar. Please refer to this calendar for scheduling purposes.

2008 Art & Talent Showcase

For 36 years the Georgia District of Kiwanis Art and Talent Showcase has inspired and motivated young adults to reach for the stars, stretch their boundaries and realize their strengths.

The Showcase is sponsored by the Georgia Kiwanis Memorial Foundation which provides a total $15,000 in educational scholarships ($7,500 for art; $7,500 for music) on an annual basis to the top four winners in each category.

While many different clubs/divisions have hosted this event over the past three decades, Divison 20 of the Georgia District was handed the reigns in 2005 and will host it again at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center on April 25, 2009.

During this time period, the competition's date was stabilized to the last Saturday in April, the application was published in time for the District convention in August, an electronic committee was developed with representatives from across the State, and workshops have been provided at each training conference.

The results have been very encouraging as student participation has increased by 56%, club participation throughout the State increased by 33%, and funding from program sponsorships has increased. Thanks to grants from the Carroll Electric Membership Foundation, the event has been enhanced with plaques for the winners; tote bags, lapel pins, and a reception for all of the competitors; and a professional video that has been broadcast on television with Charter Communications in Newnan, Georgia.

In an effort to improve the competition format, the Showcase will be converting to an Art & Music competition in 2009. This will allow contest organizers to sharpen the criteria and have adjudicators pre-selected that are versed in vocal and instrumental performance.

A video clip of the 2008 competition can be accessed at the following link. If you are interested in purchasing a DVD of the 2008 competition, please contact Patty Gironda at homeatlast@charter.net.

The application for the 2009 competition is currently available on the Georgia District of Kiwanis website.

For additional information, please contact Dan Lewis at the following contacts:

kiwanisshowcase@gmail.com

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