The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

18 acts chosen for 2016 Ohio Has Talent!

VW independent/submitted information

The ninth annual Ohio Has Talent! competition returns to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Van Wert on Saturday, March 5, at 7 p.m.

This year's Ohio Has Talent! edition features 18 performers (several of whom are shown here) who will perform Saturday, March 5, at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio. (photos submitted)
This year’s Ohio Has Talent! edition features 18 performers (several of whom are shown here) who will perform Saturday, March 5, at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio. (photos submitted)

The benefit show raises funds for Community Health Professionals Hospice Patient Care Fund, and this year’s show features 18 local and regional performers competing for $1,000, $500, and $250 prizes determined by audience votes.

Ohio Has Talent! 2016 contestants include the following:

Awakened Commotion — is a pop a cappella singing group from Hardin Northern High School in Dola. Last year, they placed third at Ohio Has Talent! and first at the Ohio FFA Convention Talent Show. The group was chosen to compete in the talent competition at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, this year.

Gabe Bailey — an eighth grade student from Berne, Indiana, plays drums, piano, and guitar and performs in coffee shops, summer festivals and other venues.

Courtney Bettinger and Bobby Klosterman — duet singers from Coldwater High School. Bettinger is part of the soccer and swim teams. Klosterman is active in National Honor Society, drama, band, show choir, symphonic choir, cross country, and track.

Morgan Bland — a junior at Hicksville High School, she has played violin for nearly 10 years and is first violinist in the Fort Wayne (Indiana) Philharmonic Youth Symphony. She has participated in the Northwest Regional Orchestra and performed with The Piano

Bella Chorvas — a singer from Ohio City and student at Crestview High School.

May and Yan Coppler — a mother-daughter opera duet from Fostoria. May began singing at church and charity events at age 7 and has won several talent titles. Yan Coppler sings regularly at her church and at community events.

Claudia Cromly — a singer from Swanton and a freshman at Evergreen High School, her dream is to be a professional singer, either on Broadway or with a recording deal. She has been in 15 musical shows and sings at local festivals, talent shows, games, and events.

Jeff Davis — a singer from Lima has been singing since childhood, beginning in church and school and continuing at area events today. He has performed with Tommy Vale of Bill Haley’s Comets, Rose Angelica, and has opened shows locally for Elvis Presley Jr.

Drawing Blanks — a band consisting of Hannah and Alex Sunderman of Johnstown and Evan Reed of Pataskala. The band performs covers and original songs and recently started working with a producer on a record deal.

Lauren Dunlap — a singer from Lima who began taking voice lessons at age 12 and has been in several recitals and placed second in a local talent show. She sings at children’s hospitals and parties and at local events.

Emily Jackson — a student at Celina High School who enjoys singing, everything from Country to Christmas carols

Julia Lyall — from Powell, is a senior at Olentangy Liberty High School. She has been dancing competitively for six years and plans to be a universal dance major in college.

Mallet Ensemble — a nine-member percussion group from Delphos St. John’s High School that consists of Ethan Benavidez, Hannah Benavidez, Ally Gerberick, Kristina Koester, Anna Mueller, Adam Schneer, Aaron Schnipke, Cassandra Schnipke, and Makenzie Stose.

Kasey Middaugh — a sophomore at Bellefontaine High School, where he plays soccer and participates in show choir and musicals. He enjoys singing and plans to study music in college.

Craig and Michelle Muhlenkamp — a swing dance duo from the village of Russia. Craig has performed and placed at past Ohio Has Talent! shows with his juggling act.

Autumn Pelok — a sixth-grader at Wauseon Middle School, she has participated in musicals through the Archbold Community Theatre, is a member of the Junior Choral Society and sings in her church choir.

The Quintramonics — a barbershop quintet comprised of five boys from Versailles High School: Quincy Baltes, Isaac Buschur, Brody Hyre, Mitchell Rawlins, and Kyle Wuebker

Sarah Vanbrocklin — an eighth grader from Botkins has been participating in musicals since first grade and has been in 12 productions, with the lead in two of them.

In addition to this year’s contestants, 2015 Ohio Has Talent! winner Sam Duquette of Van Wert will perform while audience votes are counted.

Contestant photos and bios are posted at Facebook.com/ComHealthPro on the Ohio Has Talent! event page.

Tickets start at $10 through the NPAC ticket office, 419.238.6722, and online at www.npacvw.org. Tickets for orchestra center ($26) and balcony seating ($11) are available through Community Health Professionals, 1159 Westwood Drive in Van Wert, by calling 419.238.9223.

POSTED: 01/30/16 at 8:31 am. FILED UNDER: News