Sea Isle City’s Got Talent Finale Dazzles

SEA ISLE CITY – The fourth season of the Sea Isle City’s Got Talent (SICGT) competition came to a dramatic close during this year’s Grand Finale Aug. 15. Hosted by Sea Isle’s Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization (in cooperation with the City of Sea Isle City), each year the summer-long contest delights large audiences on Friday evenings at the Excursion Park Band Shell, where weekly first, second and third place winners talk home $250, $100 and $50 respectively.
Throughout the summer, SICGT is hosted by Eric Apelt, a singer, musician and entertainer who is a familiar face at Delaware Park Casino and also in Atlantic City.
This year’s SICGT Grand Finale featured singers, musicians, song writers, dancers, a contortionist, an acrobat and a baton twirler. The contestants were judged by two-time American Idol top-40 finalist and former SICGT contestant Christian Foti, Singer/Teacher/Karaoke Host Susan Davis, and Broadway veteran Kristi Coombs, who was one of the first actresses to portray Annie in New York City.
While the judges were tallying their votes, Mara Justine, 12, of Galloway Township, NJ, stepped on stage to perform – much to the delight of the evening’s audience members, who were thrilled to see her return to Sea Isle’s Band Shell. The first place winner during last season’s SICGT Grand Finale, Justine has since appeared on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, where she advanced to the semi-finals earlier this month.
Once the judge’s votes were tallied, Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization President Christopher Glancey announced that Victoria Rose Mozitis, 13, of Northfield, NJ, was this year’s first place winner. Mozitis, who wowed the audience with her rendition of “The Wizard and I” from the play Wicked, received a check for $1500 from the chamber.
The second place prize of $750 went to Contortionist Taylor Mortenson, 11, of Villas, NJ, who is a student the Jersey Cape Dance & Gymnastics Academy. Rachael Olivio, 16, of Margate, NJ, received third place honors and a check for $350 for her rendition of the song “Quiet.”
According to contest organizer Alex Glover, of Center Stage Productions, this year’s SICGT was very successful for numerous reasons.
“It was fantastic that Mara was able to come back and sing for the audience at the grand finale,” said Glover, a veteran in the entertainment industry. “Plus, we were very fortunate to have the wonderful audiences, performers and the qualified judges we had this year. Earlier this summer, one of our weekly judges was a Tony Award winner who produces Pippin on Broadway – and without a doubt we have had terrific performers all summer long.”
“For me, however, the real charm of Sea Isle City’s Got Talent is seeing the families who support the performers – and the kids who give their all each week,” added Glover. “For many people, the next step following singing in front of your family is finding a place to perform on stage, and aside from auditioning for American Idol or for school plays, Sea Isle City offers people the opportunity to sing in front 2000 or 3000 people at one time, which gives hopeful stars a better perspective on what to do next.”
“This is a great event that showcases what a family town Sea Isle is,” added Glancey. “You see many families showing-up to root for the contestants. In addition to the throngs of spectators, we also enjoy seeing the families of the contestants cheer-on their loved ones. Sea Isle City’s Got Talent creates a great sense of community between all of the contestants, their families and the many audience members who come-out to enjoy the wonderful performances on Friday nights during the summer.”
To learn more about Sea Isle City’s popular talent contest, visit www.seaislecitysgottalent.com. For more information about the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization, visit www.seaislechamber.com.