UNION, NJ — The third annual Union talent show, Union’s Got Talent 2015, was held on Saturday, Sept. 26 to an enthusiastic audience. Presented by Connect One Bank, the event raised money for three non-profit organizations; Union High School Performing Arts Company, Township of Union Education Foundation, and Douglas Michael Krueger Scholarship Fund Inc. All money raised helps to directly benefit the students of Union through grants, scholarship and arts education.
First place went to Alyssa Muniz, Union High School Class of 2011. Second place went to Marcel Smith, Union High School Class of 2013. The People’s Choice Award winner was Brianna Terrezza from Kawameeh Middle School. And the Youth Award winner was Angela Zhang of Jefferson Elementary.
Cash prizes were awarded for the top two winners in the amounts of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 was awarded to the People’s Choice Winner.
“I had such an amazing experience at Union’s Got Talent and am unbelievably grateful for this opportunity to showcase my passion for singing and get acknowledged for it,” said Munoz. “I’m so happy to be back in Union and a part of the amazing UHSPAC community.”
Hosted by Doc Burkhardt and featuring a guest appearance by last year’s winners David and Fabio Oliver, who treated the audience to a high energy exhibition with their dance troop, the evening was filled with great entertainment and laughs provided by Burkhardt.
Judges included teacher Nicholas Ferroni, Conductor of Encore Orchestra of New Jersey Ilene Greenbaum, Mayor Manny Figueiredo, and Director of Education at the Paper Mill Playhouse Lisa Cooney.
“It’s always an amazing experience when you can bring the community together,” said UHSPAC Choreographer Jennifer Williams. For us, we want to continue to raise money to support our students and support our town, and to me there is no better way of doing that on a stage with great entertainment.”
For more information regarding Union’s Got Talent and upcoming events including UHSPAC’s upcoming productions of Union Goes to Hollywood, a celebration of music in movies featuring the Encore Orchestra of New Jersey and “Disney’s Marry Poppins,” coming in March 2016, visit their website www.uhspac.com.