COUNTY — Danielle Yother impressed the on-stage judges at the Pickens County Has Talent finals Saturday night at Pickens High School.
“Go get the guitar, give it to her and let’s go home,” judge Ben LeCroy said.
The guitar was a Miranda Lambert-autographed model given — with $500 — to the winner of the first district-wide talent contest. Yother played the banjo on “Working on a Building,” then played the guitar — including an impressive section played with the guitar behind her back — on “Gold Rush.” Yother also provided the vocals for both songs to take first prize.
The competition was the brainchild of Roy Costner of Liberty, who noted that the school district was having financial problems. By Costner’s plan, preliminary competitions were held at each of the county’s four high schools. The winners for each week of competition were invited back for Saturday night’s finals.
Among the judges for the competion Saturday night were LeCroy and Jeromy Arnett, whom Costner knew through his years entertaining local audiences. Arnett is a former winner of the Liberty Idol competition, which Costner emcees in the city of Liberty.
Kayla Duval of Ingles served as a judge Saturday night. John Homan served a a judge from his home in England, via satellite connection.
Pteviously serving as judges in preliminary rounds were Melissa Level of Ingles and Robert Hoffer of The Pitch Doctor.
Costner said the shows were a tremendous success, and he expects more than $10,000 to be split by the four high schools in the School District of Pickens County.
Those attending the finals were given the opportunity to vote for the winners. In addition, people were allowed to vote by texting a message to an appointed number for each contestant. People could vote for as many contestants as they wished, but were limited to only one vote per contestant.
Second place went to the group known as Redwire, with members Jed Hager, Jake Gantt, Morgan Parton and Bryson Capps. Redwire won $350 in prize money.
Trivocality, with members Jenna Rampey, Kaley Kerr and Will Raines, placed third with an acapella perfomance, winning $150.
Cloggers Abbey Bolick and Callie Durham placed fourth, while Kaitlyn Kearse and Savannah Pitts performed a vocal and guitar duet to place fifth.