Valerie West

SEA ISLE CITY, NJ–All summer, a bevy of talented performers sang and danced their hearts out during the new Sea Isle City's Got Talent Contest, which took place each Friday night at the resort's state-of-the-art Band Shell. Week after week, contestants entertained and delighted large audiences, including a rotating panel of judges, who faced the challenge of choosing only three winners per week. Weekly cash prizes ranged from $50 to $250.

After judges heard Valerie West, 9, of Broomall, sing and dance to I Wanna' Be a Rockette during the Opening Night of Sea Isle City's Got Talent Contest, they decided to give her that week's first place award and invite her back to the contest's Grand Finale. West is shown with the event's emcee, Rick McIver, of Atlantic City, who has been delighting audience members each week since the contest began on June 24.

Throughout the summer, Sea Isle City's Got Talent was open to all contestants over age 7 and a spotlight was shined on a wide variety of singers, dancers, musicians and other talented performers. - Patch

SEA ISLE CITY – After an eventful summer highlighted by an abundance of delightful family entertainment, the 2nd Annual Sea Isle City’s Got Talent Contest culminated on Aug. 17 with a Grand Finale that featured 22 performances at the Excursion Park Band Shell. Sponsored by the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization in cooperation with the City of Sea Isle City, the season’s final acts included dancers, singers, classical and rock musicians and a baton-twirling darling, who entertained thousands of spectators inside Excursion Park and along the resort’s oceanfront Promenade.

Emceed by Mike Boyle, the Grand Finale began with a rendition of the classic comedy skit “Who’s on First,” performed by Boyle and fellow entertainer Jon Furey. Afterwards, Boyle introduced the evening’s judges: Comic/WIP Sports Radio Host Big Daddy Graham, Touch of Class Dance Studios owner Debbie Apalucci, long-time Screen Actors Guild President Tom McCarthey, and Barbizon Modeling and Acting School Admissions Director Sheila Handley-Robertson. According to Boyle, the judges rated each of the evening’s contestant’s based on their stage presence, originality and overall performance.

After each of the evening’s 22 acts were performed, Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio stepped on stage with Chamber of Commerce President Christopher Glancey to present cash prizes to the summer’s top three winners. In the end is was Valerie West, 10, of Broomall, PA, who took home the first place prize of $1500 for singing “I Want To Be A Rockette.”

The contest’s second place prize of $750 went to a group of young ladies from Dance Dynamics Dance Studio in Seaville, who performed a spirited modern dance routine called “Rthymn Roar” while dressed in charming jungle costumes.

The third place spotlight was shared by Selena Marie, 12, of Maple Shade, NJ, who sang “Part of Your World,” and Christian Foti, 17, of Galloway, NJ, who crooned the Eagles hit “Heartache Tonight.” However, instead of dividing the third place award of $350 between the two performers, Glancey announced that the Chamber was presenting each singer with $350, which brought a round of applause from the audience.

“I am certainly glad I was not a judge tonight, because they had some difficult decisions to make” said Mayor Desiderio at the close of the contest. “Obviously, Sea Isle City is the place to be if you are looking for terrific summer entertainment.” - Cape May County Herald

TINICUM -- Like most kids, 9-year-old Valerie West has had her share of childhood diseases.

Fortunately, she has never suffered stage fright.

Valerie was the age 8-13 winner of the 2011 Rising Stars Vocal Competition, held July 16 during the YachtStock RiverJam at the West End Boat Club. She shared the honor with 16-year-old Alexa Tomaszewski of Emerson, N.J, of the 14-18 category.

"It's a lot of fun," said Valerie, of Marple. "I like how I get to sing different songs and show people my talent."

She had the chance to perform two of those songs for Rising Stars, which seeks to discover talented young people in the tri-state area. The contests were held throughout the spring at Interboro High School and she was one of 12 finalists. Valerie, who won the weekly round with a specially arranged version of "Dreams to Dream /Over the Rainbow," captured the top award with her rendition of "I Want to be a Rockette."

Rising Stars was not her first step in front of the footlights. The youngest entrant, Valerie was the winner in 2009 of the inaugural Delco Idol Jr., the summertime songfest for children 7-13 held at the Media Theatre. She was also the runner-up of last year's Rising Stars and the competitions revealed she was more than just a cute kid with an adult-size voice.


"At first she only sang at school and we didn't know she had that much talent," said her father, Ed. "It thrilled me to death that it all came so naturally to her."

Those familiar with local theater may recognize Valerie from several productions. She has performed in children's shows at Hedgerow Theatre and was cast as a munchkin and flying monkey in "The Wizard of Oz" at the Media Theater. Most recently, she played the part of Little Kim in the latter's presentation of "Showboat."

Valerie's voice and dance steps are not confined to stages in Pennsylvania. She captured first place in one of the weekly rounds of Sea Isle City's Got Talent, a revue ala the television show allowing those of all ages to display their skills. She will compete in the Aug. 12 finale for a chance to win $1,500.

The prize money, however, is far from her primary motivation. Rising Stars serves as a fundraiser for YachtStock, a non-profit organization which aids Shriners Hospitals and local families who have youngsters with chronic illnesses, and she appreciated the chance to benefit others as much as the $500 she received.

"It's a really good cause," she said. - Daily Times