PAGE A8, KEIZERTIMES, MAY 25, 2018
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McNary sophomore wins talent show
By DEREK WILEY
Of the Keizertimes
Nicholas Weathers was in
the fi fth grade when he got
his fi rst clarinet from Uptown
Music.
After winning $1,000 at
the fi rst KeizerFest Teen Tal-
ent Showcase, Weathers will
be able to purchase more
music equipment from the
Keizer store that sponsored
the event on Sunday, May 20.
Playing Premiere Rhapsody by
Claude Debussy on the clari-
net, Weathers, a sophomore at
McNary High School, fi n-
ished fi rst out of 26 acts from
middle and high schools in
Salem-Keizer.
“It was really unexpected,”
Weathers said. “I just went to
state playing that piece and I
did not do very well. I wasn’t
even in the top fi ve. I was re-
ally surprised. I thought one
of the amazing singers that
performed today would have
gotten it and defi nitely not
me.”
Weathers was the only per-
former not to sing, which he
compared to Mozart fi nding
his way into a hip hop com-
petition.
“I thought I was really out
of place,” Weathers said. “It
was very different for me.”
Weathers wasn’t exactly
sure what he would spend
his winnings on. But he does
have many options.
“My dad is a pilot so I’d
like to get my private pilot’s
license soon,” Weathers said.
“I love music. I always love
getting instruments. Maybe
driver’s ed. That’d probably be
logical.”
Hannah Wood, of West
Salem, and Kourtney Lynn
Branchfi eld, of North Salem,
who both stood out by per-
forming original songs, fi n-
ished second and third, win-
A
C
D
B
E
ning $700 and $400.
“It was a real confi dence
booster,” Weathers said. “It
meant a lot. I’ve been going
through some hard times late-
ly, lots of life things, school.
I’ve been so busy I don’t feel
like I’ve been able to put time
in for myself. I’ve been prac-
ticing a lot, AP stuff. It’s nice.”
KEIZERTIMES/Derek Wiley
A: Teen Talent Showcase winners Hannh Wood (second), Kourtney Lynn Branchfi eld (third) and
Nicholas Weathers (fi rst) with Paul Elliott of Uptown Music. B: Whiteaker Middle School students
Riley Mahoney, Blake Felbob and Roman Justise. C: Nicholas Weathers plays the clarinet.
D: Kennadi Thomas and Jacob Fritts. E: Lilly Purkey
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