Montrose boy top vocalist
Published: September 9, 2009
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
e-mail this
share this
Benjamin Ely of Montrose won the Vocal Talent Search at the Kiwanis Wyoming County Fair. STAFF PHOTO/MIKE RUDOLF
A Montrose youth is this year’s winner of the Vocal Talent Search at the Kiwanis Wyoming County Fair.
Benjamin Ely, 13, won the sixth annual competition at the fairgrounds on Monday afternoon. He is the first male winner of the competition, and the youngest winner ever.
Ely defeated seven other contestants.
During the first round of the competition, Ely sang the song “I Can Only Imagine” by the contemporary Christian group MercyMe.
After being chosen as one of four finalists, Ely thrilled the crowd with a rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”
The others who made the cut to the final round included Jeremy Bitler of Danville, Rachel Long of Elkton, Md., and Crystal Martinez of Pocono Lake.
Other contestants on stage were Mary Sharon Ciaccia of Harveys Lake, Brenda Chilson of Towanda, Tricia Lafrance of Newville, and Alyssa Porzuczek of Hughestown.
As the winner of the contest, Ely receives will receive a prize package worth more than $1,000 and includes $500 in cash. He also gets to perform at the 2010 fair to introduce the contest, an overnight stay at a hotel, and more.
