- 2024, the 14th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition right here on Nine PBS.

Tellerettes, are you ready to get this party started?

- Yeah.

- All right, let's go.

(upbeat music) (audience cheering) ♪ I'm coming up ♪ So you better get this party started ♪ ♪ I'm coming up ♪ So you better get this party started ♪ ♪ I'm coming up ♪ So you better get this party started ♪ ♪ I'm coming up ♪ So you better get this party started ♪ ♪ Ooh, yeah ♪ I'm coming up ♪ So you better get this party started ♪ ♪ I'm coming up ♪ So you better get this party started ♪ (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - [Announcer] Please welcome your host for the evening, the one, the only, Ben Nordstrom.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Hey, what's up everybody?

Welcome to the 14th Annual Teen Talent Competition.

My name is Ben Nordstrom, and I will be your host this evening.

I hope you are prepared to be blown away by the phenomenal talent you're about to see from all across the St. Louis region.

But first, let's give it up for the Fabulous Fox Band led by the one and only Steve Neale.

- [Steve] 1, 2, 3, 4.

("Living La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin) ("Living La Vida Loca" continues) - [Ben] My friends, I am thrilled to introduce to you the inaugural Teen Talent Vocal Ensemble.

♪ Come on ♪ Upside, inside out ♪ She's living la vida loca ♪ She'll push and pull you down ♪ ♪ Living la vida loca ♪ Her lips are devil red ♪ And her skin's the color mocha ♪ ♪ She will wear you out ♪ Living la vida loca ♪ Living la vida loca ♪ Living la vida loca ("Larger Than Life" by Backstreet Boys) - Please join me in welcoming our esteemed panel of judges.

("Larger Than Life" continues) First up, internationally renowned dancer, arts integration specialist, and educator, Alice Block.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) Our next judge is the owner-operator of the St. Louis Recording Club, founder of Chain of Rocks Records, and the vice president of the Memphis Chapter of the Grammy Awards, say hello to Carl Nappa.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) Artistic director of The Sheldon's All-Star Chorus and the University of Missouri-St. Louis Voices of Jubilation Gospel Ensemble, this is Maria A. Ellis.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) Lifelong professional musician, entrepreneur, and owner-operator of St. Louis Pianist, say hello to Jenn Asia.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) What do you think?

What do you think?

Next up, co-artistic director of dance at the Center of Creative Arts, this is Antonio Douthit-Boyd.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) And last but not least, Tony Award nominee and television and Broadway performer, Taylor Louderman.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) Thank you, judges.

And now give it up for a Teen Talent tradition, this is the Fabulous Fox Tellerettes.

(bright music) ♪ Simply irresistible ♪ Simply irresistible ♪ Simply irresistible ♪ Simply irresistible ♪ Simply irresistible (audience cheering) (audience applauding) (upbeat music) All right, St. Louis, get ready to meet your 2024 Teen Talent finalists.

Here they are.

First up from Visitation Academy, Rebecca Moody.

Fuse featuring Westminster Christian Academy's Evan Kim and Ian Nolting, and homeschooled student, Billy Stulac.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) From Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, Rhoda Mapenzi.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) From Orchard Farm High School, Avery Payne.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) From Rockwood Summit High School, Ava Rhine.

From Belleville East High School, Hannah Joyner.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) The Drum Warriors Ensemble, featuring Solomon Ahmed from Grand Center Arts Academy, Ismail Botchway from Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, Addison Jones from Clayton High School, and Corrin Ward from Carnahan High School.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) Molly Sallaberry from St. Joseph's Academy.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) From St. Louis Priory High School, Yrwin Batan.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) From STEAM Academy at McCluer South Berkeley, Gabby Dumas.

From Innovation High School at Cool Valley, Darrius Turner.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) Rhythm Divine, featuring Saisha Bhutani from Clayton High School, Anokhi Desai from John Burroughs School, and Sahasra Mandalapu from Ladue Horton Watkins High School.

From Nerinx Hall High School, Madison Cox.

And finally St. Louis Performance Academy True Colors, featuring Natalia Lucca from Oakville High School, Kyleigh McCourt and Alaina Phillips from Mehlville High School, Nora Remiger from Cor Jesu Academy, Chloe Ruth from Oakville High School, and Amelia Wolz from Nerinx Hall High School.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) Give it up for our 2024 Teen Talent finalists.

You are in for an incredible night, my friends.

♪ Tonight's the night ♪ Let's live it up ♪ We got the talent ♪ Let's spend it up ♪ Go out and smash it ♪ Like, oh my God ♪ Jump on that stage ♪ Let's kick it off ♪ I gotta feeling ♪ That tonight's gonna be a good night ♪ ♪ That tonight's gonna be a good night ♪ ♪ That tonight's gonna be a good, good night ♪ (upbeat music continues) (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Woo.

Tonight is gonna be a good night indeed.

See you guys.

We'll see you guys all a little bit later.

Give it up for our finalists one more time.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) Thank you all so much for joining us tonight for Teen Talent 2024.

We are so happy that you've made the decision to be here.

We have got an incredible night in store for all of you.

All right, now a little bit about the Teen Talent process.

This year, we saw over 100 contestants in the preliminary rounds in January.

So, let's give it up for every single young artist.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) So, my friends, I have a question for you.

Are you ready to get this party started?

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) I said are you ready to get this party started?

(audience cheering) (audience cheering) All right, let's get to our first finalist of the evening.

Now, the Broadway musical, "The Boy from Oz," there's a character named Liza.

And she sings a song that communicates her passion, enthusiasm, and dedication to a life in show business.

Our first finalist tonight is here to dance to the song, "She Loves to Hear the Music."

Please welcome 17-year-old Rebecca Mooney.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) (steady music) - My song is called "She Loves to Hear the Music."

And it's been really exciting to take a look into the lyrics of the song.

It's a musical theater jazz piece, which means that I take inspiration from the lyrics and use that to tell the story through my acting and my stage presence.

♪ When it comes to music ♪ There ain't nothing I can learn ♪ ♪ 'Cause everything I live and breathe ♪ ♪ Is written on an album sleeve ♪ ♪ And I can tell you who is hot ♪ ♪ Who will make it ♪ And who will not ♪ 'Cause I love to hear the music ♪ ♪ I've got every lyric down ♪ I love to hear them say I've got ♪ ♪ The greatest ears in town ♪ And there at every studio ♪ The first to come, the last to go ♪ ♪ Sometimes they take me home ♪ But I always wake up alone ♪ Alone ♪ Alone ♪ Alone (lively music continues) (lively music continues) ♪ That's me, yeah (lively music continues) (lively music continues) ♪ I love to hear the music ♪ I've got every lyric down ♪ I love to hear them say I've got the greatest ears in town ♪ ♪ I love to hear it ♪ I love to hear the music ♪ I love to hear the music ♪ The music ♪ Oh, I love it ♪ Oh ♪ I love it (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Excellent.

All right, we're gonna move to our next finalist.

In 1992, an English rock band released their debut single.

It became an overnight international sensation.

Likened to other emo rock hits of the nineties, Rolling Stone Magazine named it one of the greatest songs ever written.

Here is the band Fuse comprised of 15-year-old Evan Kim, 16-year-old Ian Nolting, and 15-year-old Billy Stulac to perform the Radiohead classic, "Creep."

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) - So I texted Evan and I texted Billy and I said, "Hey guys, you wanna start a band?"

And they were like, "Yeah, sure, yeah."

We played for a couple hours just doing random songs that we, and we learned them more.

- And then he makes us snow cones.

- I make them snow cones.

- He's really good at makings snow cones.

- I makes no snow cones.

- Very loud.

- The snow cone machine is really loud.

♪ When you were here before ♪ Couldn't look you in the eyes ♪ ♪ You're just like an angel ♪ Your skin makes me cry ♪ You oat like a feather ♪ In a beautiful world ♪ I wish I was special ♪ You're so very special ♪ But I'm a creep ♪ I'm a weirdo ♪ What am I doing here ♪ I don't belong here ♪ Oh, oh ♪ She's running out the door again ♪ ♪ She's running out ♪ She runs, runs, runs, runs (steady music continues) ♪ She runs (audience applauding) (audience cheering) ♪ Whatever makes you happy ♪ Whatever you want ♪ You're so very special ♪ I wish I was special ♪ But I'm a creep ♪ I'm a weirdo ♪ What am I doing here ♪ I don't belong here ♪ I don't belong here (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - So awesome.

All right, let's move to our next finalist.

In 2012, Alicia Keys and her co-writers set out to write a song to quote, "toast the achievements of women everywhere," end quote.

Here to sing the iconic anthem "Girl on Fire," please welcome 17-year-old Rhoda Mapenzi.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) - And I just looked up the original singer and it was Alicia Keys.

And I just think she's wonderful.

She has an amazing voice.

And what caught me with the song is to me it means the girl's unstoppable, and I think it means the same to her as well.

But, yeah.

♪ It's on Fire ♪ Filled with catastrophe ♪ Oh ♪ She got both feet on the ground ♪ ♪ And she's burning it down ♪ Oh ♪ She got her head in the clouds ♪ ♪ But she's not backing down (audience applauding) (audience cheering) ♪ This girl is on fire ♪ This girl is on fire ♪ She's walking on fire ♪ This girl is on fire ♪ Oh ♪ Everybody stares as she goes by ♪ ♪ They can see the flame that's in her eyes ♪ ♪ Watch her as she's lighting up the night ♪ ♪ Nobody knows that she's a lonely girl ♪ ♪ And it's a lonely world ♪ But she gon' let it burn, baby, burn, baby ♪ ♪ This girl is on fire ♪ This girl is on fire ♪ She's walking on fire ♪ This girl is on fire ♪ This girl is on fire ♪ Yeah ♪ She's just a girl and she's on fire ♪ (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Thank you, Rhoda.

Thank you.

My friends, we are gonna move on to our next finalist.

We have a dance piece that is a tribute to the pain and beauty that can come from heartbreak.

Please welcome 16-year-old Avery Payne in "Ode to a Love Lost."

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) - Two of my friends that I had at my studio did Teen Talent in 2022.

And then I watched the show and I was like, "I really wanna do this."

It was just a great experience.

And then I was like, "You know, "maybe I should try again this year."

So I made it to the finals again, and hopefully tonight goes well.

♪ I would do anything for just one more night with you ♪ ♪ When there was a slight of hope ♪ ♪ That you could love me too, and ♪ ♪ To never touch your face again ♪ ♪ As if your skin was mine ♪ As if there was no shame or fear ♪ ♪ In any spoken line ♪ To never feel your laughter ♪ Flashing through those shattered bones ♪ ♪ For just one second ♪ It made me feel as if they were my home ♪ ♪ To never taste those lips again ♪ ♪ That felt so sweet and pure ♪ A childishness, a flooding wave ♪ ♪ Water on the shore ♪ The long-awaited cure ♪ Every mine is yours ♪ Every mine was yours ♪ But all of that no more (audience cheering) (audience applauding) ♪ And you said you wished to fall in love ♪ ♪ Because of how I sing ♪ If it's not enough ♪ To make you fall in love ♪ With me (audience cheering) (audience applauding) - Thank you, Avery.

All right, our next finalist is an instrumentalist skilled in the art of guitar lap tapping.

Now, this is a technique where both hands are used on the fretboard to create intricate musical passages.

Here to perform the song "The Future," please welcome 18-year-old Ava Rhine.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Luca Stricagnoli is my inspiration behind learning the song.

He's the one who played the song in that unique style.

I was wanting to learn a new song on the guitar and challenge myself at the same time.

And then I came across "The Future," where I saw him playing on his lap and I thought to myself that I wanna try to learn that style.

And I just tried to emulate how he did it and use the taps he provided for me, and just try to learn it from YouTube and sheet music.

("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) (audience applauding) (audience cheering) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) ("The Future" continues) (audience cheering) (audience applauding) - Thank you.

Thank you, Ava.

Folks, can you believe the magnificent variety of talent from all across our community?

Can you believe this?

It's awesome.

All right, let's move on to our next finalist.

In 2019, a biographical film about the extraordinary American abolitionist and Underground Railroad heroine, Harriet Tubman, was released.

The song from that film "Harriet" was nominated for a Grammy, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar.

Here to perform the song "Stand Up" is our sixth finalist, 16-year-old Hannah Joyner.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) - The song I'm singing is a song that Harriet Tubman in the movie sang to inspire herself and the people that she was trying to run away with, that everything was gonna be okay, and that there just needs to be change.

And even still, African Americans are fighting for freedom still, so I just wanted to be somewhat of a help to spread the word about all the injustice that's being done.

So I just wanted to play my part in doing so.

♪ Weight on my shoulders ♪ A bullet in my gun ♪ Oh, I got eyes in the back of my head ♪ ♪ Just in case I have to run ♪ I do what I can when I can while I can for my people ♪ ♪ Now the clouds roll back and the stars fill the night ♪ ♪ Early in the morning ♪ Before the sun begins to rise ♪ ♪ We're gonna start moving, oh ♪ Towards that separating line ♪ I'm wading through muddy waters ♪ ♪ You know I got made up mind ♪ And I don't mind if I lose any blood ♪ ♪ On the way to salvation ♪ That's when I'm gonna stand up ♪ ♪ Take my people with me ♪ Together we are going to a brand new home ♪ ♪ Far across the river ♪ Do you hear freedom calling ♪ Calling me to answer ♪ Gonna keep on keeping on ♪ And I know what's around the bend ♪ ♪ Might be hard to face 'cause I'm alone ♪ ♪ And I just might fail ♪ But Lord knows I tried ♪ Sure as stars fill up the sky ♪ ♪ Stand up ♪ Take my people with me ♪ Together we are going to a brand new home ♪ ♪ Far across the river ♪ Do you hear freedom calling ♪ Calling me to answer ♪ Gonna keep on keeping on ♪ Oh, I can feel it in my bones ♪ ♪ I go to prepare a place for you ♪ ♪ I go to prepare a place for you ♪ ♪ I go to prepare a place for you ♪ ♪ I go to prepare a place for you ♪ (audience applauding) (audience cheering) (audience applause continues) (audience cheering continues) - Thank you, Hannah.

Now, the Ghanaian symbol Sankofa represents the importance of learning from the past in order to improve the future.

To close out act one, our next finalists will be performing their piece entitled "Sankofa."

And they are comprised of 18-year-old Solomon Ahmed, 17-year-old Ismail Botchway, 16-year-old Addison Jones, and 18-year-old Corrin Ward.

You may know these young men individually, but together they are The Drum Warriors Ensemble.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Yeah, so it's a little bit different from last year's.

This year we're using a lot of different rhythms, some that we have took inspiration from.

And our title of our performance is called "Sankofa," which is remembering our past and building from the past and creating the future.

So we have some modern twists that we have in our performance.

So we're making it a trippy.

We're also adding our own spin to it.

("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) (performers shout) ("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) (audience applauding) (audience cheering) ("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) (audience cheering) (audience applauding) ("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) ("Sankofa" continues) (ensemble shouts in a foreign language) (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Okay, all right.

Let's get the second act started with our next finalist.

Now, the entertainment genre of cabaret first found its beginnings in Europe with music, song, dance, drama, and recitations.

And it found a home in many European cities weaving together storytelling, and... (audience cheering) Thank you.

(audience laughing) Ah.

Hello, Molly.

(chuckles) Here we are with our next finalist.

Please welcome 16-year-old Molly Sallaberry to sing "Kindergarten Love Song."

- So there's not a super deep meaning behind "Kindergarten Love Song."

It's basically just about a little kid who has a crush on a boy in her class.

And it's her navigating how to get his attention, see if he likes her back, and Nila Wafers and things like that.

♪ I see that you have the Mario Lunchbox ♪ ♪ Well, look, I have one too ♪ But mine has a strap and a matching Thermos ♪ ♪ Is that something that impresses you ♪ ♪ I see that your mum packed you Nila Wafers ♪ ♪ Well, that's my favorite food ♪ ♪ I'll trade you some wafes for my jello pudding ♪ ♪ Is that something that you'd like to do ♪ ♪ Do you wanna hold hands I mean for Red Rover.

♪ I think there's a game on the grass ♪ ♪ Or maybe we could Oh, you're talking to Kylie.

Never mind see you in class.

♪ I noticed you noticed my crayon collection ♪ ♪ And I noticed you were missing your blue ♪ ♪ You could borrow mine if you wanna ♪ ♪ Is that something that you'd like to do ♪ ♪ Do you wanna play games ♪ I like to play ninja ♪ Or we could pretend we could fly ♪ ♪ The reason I ask is 'cause I sought of like you ♪ Never mind, your mums here, bye.

(audience laughing) ♪ What's your favorite letter of the alphabet so far ♪ ♪ Mine is M ♪ Mmm mmm mmm ♪ Do you like dogs ♪ Mine's out in my mum's car ♪ She's a lab and her name is Genevieve ♪ I have a question.

My favorite color's magenta!

Guess what?

I'm turning six on Friday!

My mum's bringing cupcakes to class.

My dad can't come 'cause he has work.

He says the Feds take half of what he makes.

(audience laughing) I don't know what that means.

♪ Do you like my hair cut Thanks!

I have a scooter.

Do you have a scooter?

We could ride sometime if you want.

♪ I like the handshake we made up together ♪ ♪ It's hard, but it's something we do ♪ ♪ Do you think it's weird you're friends with a girl ♪ ♪ 'Cause I don't and I hope you don't too ♪ ♪ Do you wanna come by for some juice after school ♪ ♪ It's the juice with the cat on the can ♪ If you don't that's okay, I just...

Wait!

You do?

Okay, great, it's a plan!

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

(audience laughing) (audience cheering) (audience applauding) - Thank you, Molly.

All right, we are gonna move to our next finalist.

He is a very accomplished pianist and composer.

Here to play a segment from his original composition called "Waltz," this is 18-year-old Yrwin Batan.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Oh, I've dabbled in all types of music.

I did start out classical.

When I started playing piano about five years ago, I was obsessed with classical music.

It really allowed me to explore a little bit of a niche band, Queen.

And if you listen to their entire discography, they cover all sorts of styles.

Hard rock.

There's jazz.

There's even country sometimes.

And that really was a jumping board to all sorts of genres.

So, it's a lot of different things I'd say.

("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) (audience applauding) (audience cheering) ("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) (audience applauding) (audience cheering) ("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) (audience applauding) (audience cheering) ("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) ("Waltz" continues) (audience cheering) (audience applauding) (audience cheering continues) (audience applause continues) - Thank you, Yrwin.

Like I said, lots of hard work, just like our next finalist.

Performing a piece entitled "In This Shirt" that digs into themes of challenge, struggle, and ultimately hope, please welcome to the stage 18-year-old Gabby Dumas.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) - It's going pretty well.

A lot of tech rehearsal, very jam packed, but very well.

I'm getting a few before-show jitters, but trying to keep myself calm, keep my head in the game, and just make sure I'm doing the best that I possibly can do.

It really depends on the style of dance that you're doing.

So if you're doing lyrical, it can be more happy.

Jazz and musical theater is very theatrical, very big with your emotions, and then what the dance means to you as a dancer, and then the facial expressions follow along with it.

♪ Overcast by your shadow ♪ As our worlds move on ♪ There's a pain ♪ It does ripple ♪ Through my frame ♪ Makes me lame ♪ There's a thorn ♪ In my side ♪ It's the shame ♪ It's the pride ♪ Of you and me ♪ Ever changing ♪ Moving on now ♪ Moving fast ♪ I am lost ♪ I am lost in our rainbow ♪ Now our rainbow has gone ♪ I am lost ♪ I am lost ♪ I am lost ♪ I am lost ♪ I am lost (energetic music continues) (energetic music continues) (audience cheering) (audience applauding) - Thank you, Gabby.

And to keep things moving right along to our next finalist, this is a vocalist singing a medley from a little known band that a few of you may have heard of, "The Beatles."

(Ben chuckles) Here to sing "Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight," please welcome to the stage 18-year-old Darrius Turner.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) - I have been a center-of-attention type of person for my entire life.

So growing up as a child, I'm always the one that's singing this, that the third, the fourth.

And I come from a family who sings, so they're always like, "Okay, go ahead.

"You wanna sing?

Get out front and do it."

So I've always been a performer, but this is my first official performing thing, anything that I've done professional.

♪ Once there was a way ♪ To get back home ♪ Sleep, pretty darling ♪ Do not cry ♪ And I will sing a lullaby ♪ Golden slumbers fill your eyes ♪ ♪ Smiles awake you when you rise ♪ ♪ Sleep, pretty darling ♪ Do not cry ♪ And I will sing a lullaby ♪ Boy, you're gonna carry that weight ♪ ♪ Carry that weight a long time ♪ ♪ Boy, you're gonna carry that weight ♪ ♪ Carry that weight a long time ♪ ♪ I'll never give you my pillow ♪ ♪ I only send you my invitations ♪ ♪ And in the middle of the celebrations ♪ ♪ I break, I break, I break down ♪ ♪ Oh, boy, you're gonna carry that weight ♪ ♪ Carry that weight a long time, oh ♪ ♪ Boy ♪ Carry that weight ♪ Carry that weight a long time ♪ (steady music continues) ♪ Once there was a way ♪ To get back homeward ♪ Once there was a way ♪ To get back home (steady music continues) ♪ And I will sing a lullaby (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Thank you, Darius.

Now, the classical Indian dance form Bharatanatyam is rich with tradition.

Combining the body with footwork and a vocabulary of sign language that uses the hands, eyes, and face muscles, this art form expresses spiritual themes and storytelling.

Here to perform their piece, "Sound of Evil," about the negative effects of self-judgment, please welcome 18-year-old Saisha Bhutani, 17-year-old Anokhi Desai, and 15-year-old Sahasra Mandalapu in Rhythm Divine.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) - Our piece is called "Sound of Evil," and it's about how negative self talk may affect you and weigh on you.

Saisha and Sahasra play the negative voices in my head.

And you see them circling around me.

And over the course of the dance, I am succumbing to what they were telling me.

And then at the end, I tell them to be quiet and go away.

(lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (lively music continues) (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Thank you, Saisha, Anokhi, and Sahasra.

Next up is a song from an obscure Broadway musical, but it has become a classic jazz standard that has been covered by Nina Simone, Michael Buble, and countless other artists, including our next finalist.

Here to sing "Feeling Good" from the musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint: The Smell of the Crowd," please welcome 18-year-old Madison Cox.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) - I have to say it's a feeling of confidence.

I chose this song because it makes me feel a certain way, like I belong here.

It just gives me this confidence of knowing that I'm gonna feel good about what I'm doing because I feel like I'm supposed to be here.

And it's a good thing.

And it's a very uplifting song.

I love jazz, the whole, everything about it, it's just amazing.

♪ Breeze drift on by ♪ You know how I feel ♪ It's a new dawn ♪ It's a new day ♪ It's a new life for me ♪ And I'm feeling good (audience applauding) (audience cheering) ♪ Oh, I'm feeling good ♪ Oh ♪ Fish in the sea ♪ You know how I feel ♪ River running free ♪ You know how I feel ♪ Blossom on tree ♪ You know how I feel ♪ It's a new dawn ♪ It's a new day ♪ It's a new life for me ♪ And I'm feeling good ♪ Oh ♪ Oh, I'm feeling good ♪ Oh ♪ Oh, I'm feeling good ♪ Stars when you shine ♪ You know how I feel ♪ Scent of the pine ♪ You know how I feel ♪ Freedom is mine ♪ And you know how I feel ♪ It's a new dawn ♪ It's a new day ♪ It's a new life ♪ For me ♪ And I'm feeling ♪ So good (audience cheering) (audience applauding) ♪ Oh, I'm feeling good ♪ Yeah, I'm feeling good (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - Thank you, Madison.

And now it is time for our final act of the evening.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) (steady music) Please welcome True Colors.

(audience cheering) - We all twirl for St. Louis Performance Academy, but we all go to different schools.

Some of us go to Mehlville, some go to Oakville, and we have two private school girls as well.

And since we all twirl at the same studio, we were all like, "Hey, this would be fun.

"Let's do it together."

And now, here we are.

Lots and lots of practice.

We have spent so many hours on this routine perfecting every single moment, every single toss, every catch, every single foot placement.

And honestly, that just takes all of us to work as a team to really connect our minds and to think alike so we all perfect everything that we have done.

♪ So if you want to ♪ You got the green light ♪ Purple rain, purple rain ♪ Purple rain, purple rain ♪ Purple rain, purple rain ♪ I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain ♪ ♪ When out of an orange-colored view ♪ ♪ A ash, bam, alakazam ♪ Out of an orange-colored sky (bright music continues) (audience cheering) ♪ I'm blue how you feel sometimes ♪ ♪ Da ba dee da ba di ♪ Da ba dee da ba di ♪ Da ba dee da ba di ♪ Da ba dee da ba di ♪ Pink, goes with everything ♪ Beautiful from head to toe ♪ I'm read' to go, you know, you know ♪ ♪ It's pink ♪ Good enough to drink ♪ We like all the colors ♪ But pink just looks so good on us ♪ ♪ My true colors ♪ Yeah, a rainbow ♪ True Colors shining through ♪ I see your true colors ♪ That's why I love you ♪ Don't be afraid to let them show your true colors ♪ ♪ True colors are beautiful like a rainbow ♪ ♪ I see your colors though they appear to be different ♪ ♪ Trust me, I'm a fighter and a lover ♪ ♪ But the only time I fight is to reveal my true colors ♪ ♪ And I see your true colors shining through ♪ ♪ I see your true colors ♪ That's why I love you ♪ So don't be afraid to let them show your true colors ♪ ♪ True colors, true colors ♪ True colors, true colors are beautiful ♪ (audience cheering) (audience applauding) - [Ben] All right, my friends.

And now the moment we've all been waiting for.

We have our first, second, and third place winners.

We're gonna announce those right now.

Come this way my friends.

We're gonna go to center stage.

(drum roll sounding) The third place, $4,000 scholarship has been underwritten by longtime philanthropist Sally Johnston and will be presented by her son Steve Johnston.

Nice to see you, Steve.

I'm good, I'm good.

Okay, here we go.

Third place goes to Yrwin Batan.

(audience applauding) (audience cheering) (funky jazz music) (audience applause continues) (audience cheering continues) Thank you, Steve.

Congratulations Yrwin.

Oh my gosh.

There's so many cards, there's so... My friends, I have some drama to share with you.

It is not my own personal drama.

There is a tie for second place.

(audience cheering) The second place, $6,000 scholarship has been underwritten by John Russell.

Second place goes to... (drum roll sounding) Avery Payne and Rhythm Divine.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) (funky jazz music) (audience applause continues) (audience cheering continues) Okay, that was so dramatic.

Do you have drama to share?

No.

Okay, all right.

All right, here we go.

The first place, $8,000 scholarship has been underwritten by Mary Strauss.

I'm gonna look at this.

The winner of the 14th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition is... (drum roll sounding) Molly Sallaberry.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) (funky jazz music) (audience applause continues) (audience cheering continues) Congratulations.

All right, thank you.

There you have it.

Congratulations to all of our finalists.

Thank you to everyone involved in this event.

We will see all of you, all of you next year at the 15th Annual Teen Talent Competition right here on January 18th, 2025 on the Fabulous Fox Stage.

Goodnight my friends.

("Larger Than Life" by Backstreet Boys) (audience cheering) (audience applauding) ("Larger Than Life" continues) (audience cheering continues) (audience applause continues) ("Larger Than Life" continues) (audience cheering continues) (audience applause continues) ("Larger Than Life" continues) (audience cheering continues) (audience applause continues) ("Larger Than Life" continues) (audience cheering continues) (audience applause continues) ("Larger Than Life" fades out) (no audio)