A McCluer High School senior is the winner of this year’s St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. Vocalist Troy Staten’s performance of “Not My Father’s Son” from the Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” earned him top honors and an $8,000 scholarship in the annual contest that showcases the area’s most talented teens.
Fourteen acts featuring a total of 20 student finalists competed May 24 during a pre-recorded televised event on Nine PBS, during which the winners were announced at the end of the broadcast.
Other winners include: vocalist and guitarist Aubory Bugg, a Granite City High School junior, who performed “If You Were Rain” ($6,000 second-place prize) and contemporary dance group Ultralight Beam featuring Amani Goodson of Parkway North High School, Amiyah Harlan of Parkway Central High School, Amaiya Knuckles-Johnson and Ravyn Stubblefield of Hazelwood Central High School, Amiyah McClure of University City High School and Anijah Warlick of Cardinal Ritter College Prep ($4,000 third-place prize). The $1,000 cash Audience Choice Award went to singer Lucy Schene from Kirkwood High School.
The 11th annual competition, usually held in front of a live audience at the Fox Theatre, was recorded for broadcast this year due to the pandemic, with each performance filmed on the Fox stage for the special program.
Acts were judged by a panel of performing arts professionals with careers spanning film, the recording industry, television and Broadway, who rated contestants based on interpretation, stage presence, technical ability and originality.
The acts were directed by Broadway’s Tony Parise, a native St. Louisan who returned for his 11th year to write the script and direct the program. Parise worked with choreographer Yvonne Meyer Hare and music director Steve Neale on this year’s show.
Nine PBS will rebroadcast the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Finals at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 29; and at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 30.
A total of $50,000 in college scholarships, cash awards and special prizes were handed out during the finals. This year’s competition drew 123 acts representing more than 75 area high schools. A full list of prizes and winners, as well as pre-registration for the 12th annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, can be found on the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation website.
