WINNER — Dalana Bove, 14, struck a pose during the dance performance that would earn her the overall prize at the 2024 Valley’s Got Talent, Sunday. -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — The 2024 Valley’s Got Talent showcased the many and varied gifts of dozens of local youths, Sunday.

Now in its 11th year, the talent show drew a crowd of hundreds to be wowed by singing, dancing and more — all with an inspirational or Christian tenor. Participants had to be between the ages of 13 and 23 and live within 35 miles of Steubenville.

Presented by the Sycamore Youth Center, Valley’s Got Talent grants kids an “opportunity to shine,” according to Sycamore’s Executive Director Bobbyjon Bauman.

“The goal is to give kids in the Upper Ohio Valley the opportunity to glorify God through their God-given talents in front of a large crowd that will be able to appreciate and value our area youth.”

As he remarked several times during the event, Bauman said this year’s show “probably had the most talented lineup we’ve ever had” out of all previous shows.

Crowned as this year’s overall winner was 14-year-old Dalana Bove. A student at Indian Creek High School, Bove performed a solo dance to “Voice of God” by Dante Bowe.

Bove said of the honor: “It really means a lot. It was an honor sharing a stage with all these amazing, talented people.”

A dancer since she was 5 years old, Bove now dances for Dance Force Elite in Steubenville.

Bove was given her award by 2023 VGT overall winner and pianist Catherine Englert. Regarding her performance, Bove said, “It’s about always seeing the little, tiny things that God gives as signs and really listening to those signs.”

Additional awards included:

• Dance duet/trio: First place, Danielle and Leandra Hostetler of Bridgeport, ages 23 and 14, dancing to “Krakowiak and Mach Medley” by Herman and Dziewanowska.

• Miscellaneous: First place, Aryiah Jones, 18, Steubenville High School, performing a mime routine to “Deliver Me” by Wendall Huckaby.

• Vocal soloist: First place, Miriam Free, 14, Catholic Central High School, singing “Ave Verum Corpus” by Mozart; second place, Bella Thompson, 18, Bergholz, singing “Hold On To Me” by Lauren Daigle, and third place, Serena Terry, 16, Franciscan University of Steubenville, singing “Panis Angelicus.”

• Instrumentalist: First place, Lucian Englert, 14, homeschooled, playing “Golden Hour” on the piano, and second place, Sydney Frampton, 18, Edison High School, playing “Amazing Grace” on the violin.

• Praise band/choir: First place, Kingdom Kids Youth Choir, Mount Zion Baptist Church in Steubenville, performing “Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” by Maverick City Music, and second place, Jefferson County Christian School Worship Team, performing “I Thank God” by Maverick City Music.

• Original songwriter: First place, JR Lawrence Lewis, 20, Steubenville, rapping “Love Your Friends,” and second place, Evan Conn, 13, Indian Creek Middle School, singing “When Mountains Cry” and playing guitar.

• Dance group: First place, St. Patrick’s Irish Dancers (Raissa Urbanczyk, Miriam Free, Alethia Sirilla, Lucy Wear and Charity Sirilla), homeschooled, dancing to “Reel Around The Sun” by Bill Whelan, and second place, Sycamore Youth Center Folk Dancers, Steubenville, dancing to “Galician Muineira.”

• Vocal soloist with instrument: First place, Jonathon Jenkins, 19, Franciscan University, singing “Praise you In This Storm” by Casting Crows and playing piano; second place, Roman Yankello, 14, Kennedy Township, singing “Same God” by Hannah Kerr and playing piano, and third place, Benedict Gan, 14, homeschooled, singing “Only You” by Damascus Worship and playing piano.

• Vocal group: First place, Mary Rankin and Marcel Ferrer, both 18, Franciscan University, performing “Build A Boat” by Colton Dixon.

• Dance soloist: First place, Shayla Terry, 16, homeschooled, dancing to “You Left Me” by Mary Lambert.

Also performing were Connie Brookes, 22, Steubenville, singing “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant; Gemma McCallister, 14, CCHS, singing “Try” by Colbie Caillat; Esther Berry, 23, Steubenville, singing “O Holy Night” and playing accordion; Cecelia Terry, 16, South Fayette High School, singing “The Call” by Regina Spektor; Shelby Elerick, 16, East Richland Christian High School, singing “You’re The Only One” by Chris Renzema and “I Need You More” by Josiah Queen and Henrik and playing piano, and Cooper Crowe, 14, Harding Middle School, singing “Dancing In The Sky” by Sam Barber and playing guitar.

Participants were judged based on spiritual or inspirational effectiveness, vocal/instrumental/dance excellence and ability to engage or connect with the audience.

Judges included Marc Barnes, the Harmonium Project; Charlene Dawkins, Greater Zion Temple Family Worship Center music director; Rick Hicks, SHS assistant band director; Sandy Pucci, Led By Mercy band, and Darlene Van Dyke, Christian contemporary music vocal artist. Faith Drysdale served as the show’s mathematician.

Bove received a $500 cash prize for being named the overall winner. Additional prizes included $75 for first place finishers in each category, $35 for second place in each category and $20 for third place in each category.

The show featured special guest performances from Destiny Angelucci, 2024 VGT Kids overall winner; Catherine Englert, 2023 VGT overall winner; Ashley Marina, 2019 VGT overall winner; Faire May, 2020 VGT overall winner; Lynzee Ensell, 2021 VGT overall winner, and Lexa Davis; Elisha Fletcher, 2014 VGT overall winner, and Brent Kimball, 2017 VGT overall winner.

For talented local youths between the ages of 8 and 13, the 2025 Valley’s Got Talent Kids Edition will take place April 4. More information is available at sycamorecenter.com/vgtkids.