A Harriston native was declared the winner of Drayton Entertainment’s Great Community Talent Search.
Emily MacRobbie of Harriston earned first place in the talent search competition with her performance of Adele's version of Bob Dylan's song "Make You Feel My Love." The official release from Drayton Entertainment states that as the first place winner, MacRobbie will "receive a Golden Ticket Package, which includes tickets to shows at all five Drayton Entertainment locations in 2022, plus dinner and accommodation for an overnight stay in the area surrounding each venue."
Simon Zenker of Elmira came second with his juggling skills and Leamington's Malia Dilana Afonso of Leamington came in third place with her performance of “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman.
The competition accepted applications from around the province from amateur performers, and ultimately 9 finalists were selected. The Top 9 Finalists included Malia Dilana Afonso of Leamington, Emily MacRobbie of Harriston, Faridhusen Mansuri of Guelph, Emma Reynolds of Penetanguishene, Adam Rigby and Cayleigh Lennox of Dundas, Rezonation Quartet of Kitchener-Waterloo, Abigail Shatford of Pelham, Daniella Vega-Hickey of Cambridge, and Simon Zenker of Elmira.
“We are proud of the way this contest turned the spotlight on some incredible non-professional talent in Ontario,” says Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment. “It’s been great to see the variety of talent from singing and dancing to juggling and more. Plus, the geographic reach of the search spanned across the province from Penetanguishene to Leamington, Pelham to Dundas, and beyond.”
“It feels so awesome to be chosen by the audience as the winner! Thank you to everyone who voted,” says MacRobbie. “I was just grateful for the opportunity to perform. I had no expectations. What a wonderful experience!”