Variety show proves that Menifee’s Got Talent

The annual Menifee’s Got Talent event showcasing singers, dancers and musicians from all genres, returned as an in-person event at Liberty High School’s performing arts theater on May 5. Hundreds of enthusiastic audience members were entertained by a wide variety of acts during the two-hour show presented by Arts Council Menifee.

ivories with an original composition and a standard, respectively. Lorena Hancock presented dancers from Ballet Folklorico of Menifee and Jasmine Lliescu performed a classic ballet number. Emanuel Esparza led a jazz combo and Grace Kyte took lead vocals for the rock band Name Pending.

The evening provided a musical storm as 10-year-old Joseph Luna Jr. brought huge applause with his rendition of a Journey song and Hannah Butler brought the house down with an original composition she titled “Ok, Ok.”

When it was first launched by Arts Council Menifee in 2011, Menifee’s Got Talent was a competition, similar to the popular reality television shows. ACM President and MGT Coordinator Colleen Ackerman said she initiated the Hannah

Singers were Gabby Nicoll, Joseph Luna Jr., Hannah Butler (with guitar), J.R. Ramos, Richard Ketcham, Christine Park and Charmaine Summers (duet), DeAndre Pullen, Audrey Woisin, Aryana Campos, Abishay Forys, David Mallery, Raymond Carpenter (with guitar), Daniella Moroz, Benjamin Cooper and Angela Mona.

Pianists Aaron James Schaffer and Barbara Shawcroft tickled the see TALENT, page A-7