PICKENS — The Pickens High School Band Boosters hosted their annual “Pickens Has Talent” talent show Thursday, Feb. 24.

Leah Gravely served as the emcee for the evening. Participation was open to the entire school, and 21 acts competed, with more than 55 contestants in the show.

The judges for the evening were Amanda Burnette, who teaches dance at The Centre for Performing Arts in Easley, Tim Hurlburt, the assistant director of bands at Clemson University, and Jason Price, a hotel manager who has served as a church pianist and minister of music.

The contestants were judged on the criteria of skill, showmanship, talent, and creativity. Each contestant also had a box in the auditorium lobby. Audience members were encouraged to vote for their favorite contestant throughout the night by placing spare change or dollar bills in their box. The contestant with the most amount of money in their box at the end of the night would win the “Audience Choice Award” and all of the money in their box.

The 2011 Pickens Talent Show category winners were: Anna Gravely — Vocal Solo Category; Double Take (Taylor McCollum & Anna Owens) — Vocal Ensemble Category; Danielle Buckhiester — Instrumental Category; All Hail the Villains (Evan Degear, Tyler Rose, Benji Paris, Stephanie Nichols, Lauren Cook) — Band Category; The Soccer Starlets (Katie Soles, Kaelyn Bayn, Kat Miller, Savannah Russell, Brett Horne, Ashleigh Abercrombie, Lily Degear, Salley Hiott, Ashley Bowen, Kelsey Kobler, Olivia Batson, Katelyn Dillashaw, Anna Cummings, Darion Fricks, Lauren Ramey) — Dance Category; Breann Griffin — Other Category.

Third place and third highest score of the night went to Danielle Buckhiester. Second place and second highest score of the night went to Double Take. First place — Grand Champion and highest score of the entire night went to Anna Gravely.

The 2011 audience choice award went to Ashton Bosley and Haley Yates, who ended up winning $90.
Each year the PHS band program has a budget of around $30,000 above what the school district allows them.

Fundraisers and events such as the talent show are what help the band with costs such as transportation, marching band shows, instrument repairs, registrations, equipment, field maintenance and more.