Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
April 10, 2008 issue
The Stars Come Out on April 25
Here Are the Reasons You Can’t Miss This Show
Story by Kathleen McFadden and Corinne Saunders
Why on earth would you want to attend Shooting Stars, the annual talent show fundraiser for the Watauga Education Foundation, if you don’t have a child performing in the show?
Lots of reasons.
From a pure entertainment standpoint, you can’t beat Shooting Stars. Where else are you going to see dance numbers, choral performances, bands and ensembles, singers, a choral reading, visual art, solo musicians and even a hula-hoop performance in one show?
From an economic standpoint, tickets to Shooting Star are a great deal. Adults can attend for just $10 and students for $5.
From a community standpoint, Shooting Stars celebrates local children and their incredible talent. Plus, you’ll see lots of friends at the show.
And from an education standpoint, the money from Shooting Stars gives the Watauga Education Foundation a way to fund creative educational projects and programs in local schools, as well as professional development activities for teachers.
When you think about it, there’s really no good reason not to attend Shooting Stars. All of these reasons make it a can’t-miss show, and it’s happening on Friday, April 25, at Farthing Auditorium. The show begins at 6:30 p.m.
As an added bonus, the participants in the visual arts aspect of Shooting Stars will be featured more prominently this year than ever before.
The winners of the visual arts category will be interviewed in advance of the show, and the video of their interviews will be shown during the Shooting Stars performance.
The students will also have an exhibition and artists’ reception at the Jones House.
Artist judges will select 43 winning visual arts pieces that will be hung at the Boone Mall on April 6.
Proud parents will be able to order note cards of their child’s work, regardless of whether or not it was selected to be displayed at the Boone Mall. The WEF will offer the option to buy any participating artist’s work—20 note cards for $18 or framed artwork prints (8.5” x 11”) that will be matted on museum-grade paper, Bullard said.
DVDs of the Shooting Stars performance will also be available for sale, with proceeds ultimately benefiting Watauga County Schools.
A ton of work is going on behind the scenes to bring this show to Watauga County, and a number of local businesses have signed on as sponsors to defray the costs so that more money reaches local students and teachers.
This year, Tweetsie Railroad is the show’s presenting sponsor. “This is the first year they have partnered with us,” said Watauga Education Foundation Executive Director Melanie Bullard, “and we feel it is a really good partnership. Tweetsie is in the fourth grade history book, and Dick Jones [former Watauga County Schools superintendent] helped develop curriculum for teachers who take their students to the amusement park.”
Shooting Stars has more event sponsors this year than ever before. “That is huge,” Bullard said. “The community has really come through.” Event sponsors are New River Building Supply and Lumber; Drs. Mayhew, Scheffler, Conn and Hardaway; Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff; Wealth Advisor Group; Wal-Mart; Appalachian Regional Healthcare System; and First Citizen’s Bank.
In addition, 29 other businesses are spotlight sponsors.
“The community support is wonderful,” Bullard said.
Advance tickets are recommended because Shooting Stars sold out last year, Bullard said. Anyone who wants to make a contribution to the WEF can do so at any time, she added.
Purchase tickets in person at Farthing Auditorium and at all Boone BB&T locations or by calling Farthing Auditorium at 828-262-4046.
Go out next Friday night to see the show. You have lots of good reasons.
The Shooting Stars Performance Lineup
Shooting Stars will include the following acts, performed by youth ranging from kindergarteners to high school seniors from all Watauga County Schools. In addition, Tweetsie Railroad will present a special surprise at intermission.
Addie and Darcy—Clogging by Addie Hall and Darcy Carson
Angel—Vocal performance by Lauren Johnson
As the Deer—Vocal performance by Lindy Norris
Bring It All Together—Vocal performance by Ashley Bostian
Castle on a Cloud—Vocal performance by Emma Pinnix
Country Kickin’ Charm—Clogging by Dee Coffey, Lana Anderson, Amanda Blanton
Fabulous—Vocal and dance performance by Katelyn Callahan, Haylee Barker, Grace Watson
God Bless the Children—Vocal and PowerPoint performance by Emma Harkins
Hard Knock Life—Vocal performance by Erin Colby, Kodie Dotson, Jenna Greene, Sara Frances Greene, Callie Idol, Maggie Idol, Ali Maupin, Emily Rochelle, Megan Tate, Olivia Watson, Kelsey Ziegler
I Hope You Dance—Vocal and dance performance by Kimmi Kanagy and Khristina Kanagy
I Like to Move It, Move It—Clogging by Sydney Styron
If You’re Happy/Amen—Choral performance by the Methodist-Presbyterian Children’s Choir, directed by Dotty Sykes
It Don’t Mean a Thing—Vocal and dance performance by Chloe Carney, Jessica Dotson, Maria Elias, Megan Goodman, Candace Hagaman, Kassiby Hall, Ashely Hicks, Ashtyn Mast, Sarah McGuire, Michelle Tibbett, Lindsay Warren
It’s My Party—Vocal performance by Sarah McGuire, Allison Townsend, Jordan Thomas
Little People—Vocal performance by Riley Whitworth
Love Song—Vocal performance by Jordan Thomas
Opus #2 Prelude—Piano performance by Baron Fenwick
Popular—Vocal performance by Jessica Presnell
Preamble—Choral reading by Clay Austin, Alex Parsons, Harrison Battle, Mason Illich, Ginny Griffith, Kathleen Baker, Alyson Branch, Jessica Main, Candace Parker, Ashely Jarrett, Cheyenne Bryant, Taelor Critcher, Kali Scott, Adriana Wright, Brian Opatosky, Darby Middlebrook
Quintetto Watavganini—Music performance by Baron Fenwick, Ledah Finck, Willa Finck, Doria Kosmala, Maura Shawn Scanlin
Renaissance Fayre—Dance with live band by students from Green Valley
Sonata in C Major Allegro—Cello performance by Patrick Lee Coston
Song from Ebay—Vocal performance by Renee Taylor
Teardrops on My Guitar—Vocal performance by Kaitlin Felts and Melody Harmon
The New Girl in Town—Hula-hoop performance by Brooke Ann Byrd
This Song’s for You—Vocal and piano performance by Cam Haas
We Will Stand—Vocal performance by Jessica Bryant, Abby Foster, Jamie Sheppard
When You Were Clueless—Vocal performance by Carri Haas
You Can’t Stop the Beat—Choral performance by the Advanced Women's Ensemble from Watauga High School
You Got a Friend in Me—Vocal performance by Skylar Younce and Caleb King
Students in the Group Performances
Three of the acts in next weekend’s Shooting Stars show feature groups of students. Here’s who they are.
You Can’t Stop the Beat—The Watauga High School Advanced Women's Ensemble
Simone Anderson
Chana Baird
Laura Belden
Jenna Bryson
Rachel Capen
Amanda Carringer
Rachel Church
Dee Coffey
Kendall Conner
Sidney Cook
Olivia Dekeyzer
Kate Edwards
Ruth Edwards
Sebrina Farrington
Abby Foster
Katelin Fox
Emily Greer
Krista Handy
Brittney Harrison
Kimmi Kanagy
Anna Lowe
Courtney McKinney
Hannah Oliver
Erin Parsons
Jessica Presnell
Nicole Sbrizzi
Jamie Sheppard
Chelsey Shore
Millie Simmons
Teresa Smith
Kelly Sweeney
Rachel Tilghman
Leah Trivette
Anna Waters
Caroline Yates
Anna Claire Miller
Renaissance Fayre—Students from Green Valley
Celeste Bryan
Kristen Jones
Gracie Kral
Hope LaPointe
Michala McCune
Amie Sigmann
Jonah Critcher
Jeremy Critcher
Brian Travers
Jessica Main
Jazmyne Maxwell
Courtney Thompson
Baron Fenwick
Tre Grubb
Clay Austin
Darby Middlebrook
Brian Opatosky
Harrison Battle
Tyler Rice
Michael Wood
Mariah Farris
Ivy Campbell
Seth Smalling
Candace Parker
Ethan Greene
Mason Illich
Katelyn Carson
Bridget Kunze
Brian Mailler
Ian Hawkins
If You’re Happy/Amen—Methodist-Presbyterian Children’s Choir
Holly Aldridge
Brett Aldridge
Holly Allain
Kayleigh Andrews
Mackenna Berry
Ruby Boisclair
Grace Bowling
Clay Burchell
Catherine Catoe
Lily Cavanaugh
Bridger Cherry
Kate Cone
Gillian Cone
Reed Conner
Mallory Coston
Patrick Coston
Daisy Cate Diamond
Rebecca Dowdy
Karen Ehrhardt
Madison Ezzell
Sydney Farthing
Brynne Gould
Caleb Gould
Kinsey Greene
Jack Greene
Sara Frances Greene
Carri Haas
Andrew Hampton
Emma Harkins
Carrie Harmon
Sidney Hayes
Alex Helms
Kaitlyn Herman
Alex Hines
Wyatt Holder
Callie Idol
Deanna Indicott
Jasmine Jackson
Megan Jackson
Lauren Jones
Nathan Jones
Kelsi Kanoy
Erin Kerbaugh
Sarah Belle Lehmann
Kristi Leitch
Caroline Lovins
Amanda Lubkemann
Daniell Mayes
Laurel Miller
Cadie Mitkus
Tabitha Moody
Gabrielle Moody
Carolina Norman
Heather Ostwalt
Rebecca Pendrey
Katie Pendrey
Amber Popoola
Allison Quinn
Hanna Reeves
M J Sanqui
Simran Sethi
Rebekah Shoemaker
Andrew Skeens
Rachel Stanley
Katherine Stapleton
Victoria Stapleton
Mackenzie Utter
Kimberly Vines
Jessica Wangler
Lynde Wangler
Owen Warmuth
Lauren Welsh
Katherine Welsh
Rose Wheeler
Hali Wood-Miller
Hannah Zimmerman
Caleb Zimmerman