Actors’ Playhouse Young Talent Big Dreams Contest
Inspired by popular reality TV talent shows like American Idol, Young Talent Big Dreams is a free, countywide competition open to children ages 8-17 living in Miami-Dade County. Sponsored by The Children’s Trust in partnership with Actors’ Playhouse, this year’s YTBD offered area children and youth the opportunity to express themselves in one of eight categories: Individual Vocals – Broadway/Jazz/Classical); Individual Vocals – Pop/Rock/Rap; Individual Spoken Word; Bands/Group Vocal; Group Dance; Individual Musical Instrument; Individual Dance; and Individual Original Composition.
Photos by Gregory Reed
Spoken Word winner Kourtney Wallace, 16, with Children’s Trust President and CEO James Haj.
Violinist Gabriella Zaken, 11, took top honors for Individual Musical Instrument.
Group Dance winner Dynasty Step Team proudly represented Miami Norland Senior High.
Category winner Carolina Rivero’s pre-show jitters disappeared when the 16-year-old stepped on stage.
Grand Prize winner Francesca Winer, 15, brought down the house with an emotional performance of “’Round Midnight.”
Emcee Earl Maulding deftly steered the show, and kept both the audience and the performers engaged.
A boisterous and be-tied M.O.B. made it to the winner’s circle.
Ayden Hassenberg, a 17-year-old senior at Robert Morgan Educational Center in the Academy of the Performing Arts, took home a win for Individual Original Composition.
Fifteen-year-old Jezabel Espinoza’s gravity-defying footwork pushed her to the top of the Individual Dance
