By Jill Greenwood

If you think you’ve got what it takes to become the next Jackie Evancho, we’ve got the opportunity for you!
The 2016 Kean Quest Talent Search attracts singers of all ages and has seen its share of amazing talent since launching in 2004. Richland Township’s own Jackie Evancho, who was the runner up in the nationally acclaimed 2010 America’s Got Talent, was a contestant in 2009 in what was then known as Kean Idol. [Read more…]

Neighboring Garrett County, Maryland has been selected by Travel & Leisure as America’s Best Town for Fall Colors.

Located only two hours outside of Pittsburgh, Garrett County is the western-most county in Maryland and home to:

• Deep Creek Lake, the state’s largest freshwater lake
• Wisp Resort, Maryland’s only ski resort (32 slopes & trails for skiing and snowboarding, snow tubing park, terrain parks, ice skating rink, Nordic center for cross-country skiing, guided snowmobile tours, snowshoeing, mini mobiles for kids, mountain coaster).
• Adventure Sports Center International, the world’s only mountaintop recirculating whitewater course.
• Muddy Creek Falls, the state’s highest waterfall (53’) located at Swallow Falls State Park.
• Backbone Mountain, whose elevation of 3,360’ is the highest point in Maryland.
• 90,000 acres of public land, more than any other county in Maryland
• 7 State Parks and 2 State Forests

[Read more…]

You and members of your family, friends and wedding party
are cordially invited to
Pittsburgh’s Premier Wedding Show:

All That Glimmers Bridal Event

Saturday, March 15^{th
11-3pm
VIP starts at 10am}

Conveniently held at The Grand Room of the new Holy Trinity Center
985 Providence Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pa 15237
(at the intersection of Babcock Boulevard and Cumberland Road)

VIP Event begins at 10:00 a.m. for an exclusive meet and greet with the vendors followed by a Champagne Brunch exquisitely prepared by Arista Catering and Event Planning for our VIP guests. Tickets for the VIP Event are $35 and include General Admission.

Doors open for General Admission at 11:00 a.m. and remain open until 3:00 p.m. Meet with vendors, enjoy delectable food samples, view stunning wedding displays and participate in raffles, auctions, door prizes, gift bags, gift cards and so much more. General Admission tickets are $15.

A portion of the proceeds of both General Admission tickets and VIP Event tickets benefit Glimmer of Hope for Breast Cancer Research foundation – funding research for premenopausal women.

To purchase tickets, go to glimmerbridalevent.com, call 412-716-2835 or email us at glimmerbridalevent@gmail.com.  Enter or mention the promo “ncmag” to receive $5.00 off when purchasing your ticket for the All That Glimmers Bridal Event.

You and members of your family, friends and wedding party
are cordially invited to
Pittsburgh’s Premier Wedding Show:

All That Glimmers Bridal Event

Saturday, March 15^th
Conveniently held at The Grand Room of the new Holy Trinity Center
985 Providence Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pa 15237
(at the intersection of Babcock Boulevard and Cumberland Road)

VIP Event begins at 10:00 a.m. for an exclusive meet and greet with the vendors followed by a Champagne Brunch exquisitely prepared by Arista Catering and Event Planning for our VIP guests. Tickets for the VIP Event are $35 and include General Admission.

Doors open for General Admission at 11:00 a.m. and remain open until 5:00 p.m. Meet with vendors, enjoy delectable food samples, view stunning wedding displays and participate in raffles, auctions, door prizes, gift bags, gift cards and so much more. General Admission tickets are $15.

A portion of the proceeds of both General Admission tickets and VIP Event tickets benefit Glimmer of Hope for Breast Cancer Research foundation – funding research for premenopausal women.

To purchase tickets, go to glimmerbridalevent.com, call 412-716-2835 or email us at glimmerbridalevent@gmail.com.  Enter or mention the promo “ncmag” to receive $5.00 off when purchasing your ticket for the All That Glimmers Bridal Event.

By Robin Taylor

Singing sensation Jackie Evancho got her start at the Kean Theatre, competing in what’s now known as Kean Quest Talent Search, a popular local singing competition in Gibsonia. Evancho was first runner up in 2008 and again in 2009, before going on to national acclaim in 2010 on America’s Got Talent, where she came in second place at the age of 10.
In 2004, when Kean Quest started, American Idol was the most popular show on television, and the vocal competition was seen as a fun way to raise money for St. Barnabas Charities. Unlike American Idol, there are no Simon Cowell’s on the judge’s panel. The judges score each contestant’s performance, but do not comment afterwards or share the scores with the contestants.
Kean Quest is a fun, friendly competition and is not meant to criticize anyone personally or discourage development. We know the contestants are amateurs who are learning how to perform and we want this to be a positive experience. For many of them, this is the first time they will have ever performed before a live audience.
This year’s competition began in January, although it’s not too late to sign up. There is another preliminary youth round in February and two more preliminary rounds in March. The top scorers in the preliminary rounds move on to the semi-finals on Sunday, March 30. The winners from the semi-finals will compete in the Youth Championship on Friday, April 11.
There is also an adult competition on Friday, April 4. Anyone 19 and up is allowed to participate as long as they are an amateur and are not currently under a recording contract.
Contestants are judged on three factors: talent, stage presence and presentation. The audience also gets to vote and will select a winner from each round.
The grand prize includes a recording session at Audible Images, a Grammy award-winning recording studio. The winners will also get professional headshots that can be used by an agent for promotions, if they plan to pursue a career in music.
Every year, the prestigious Jackie Evancho Award is given to the runner-up who tried the hardest and showed the most promise. Jackie is usually on stage to personally present the award to the winner.
This year, Evancho is planning a Latin American concert tour and plans to attend the Kean Quest finals as long as her tour dates don’t conflict. Since her success on America’s Got Talent, Jackie has issued 5 albums, including a platinum and a gold album.
Jackie isn’t the only recognizable face to get her start on Kean Quest. Sarah Marince, the young lady with the big smile, who is featured in the Eat ‘n Park restaurant chain commercials, also was a finalist in 2006.
While Kean Quest is a competition, it is first and foremost a charity fundraiser. The money raised through ticket sales will benefit St. Barnabas Charities. The St. Barnabas Free Care Fund provided more than $4.5 million in free care last year to patients in need.
The goal of the friendly competition is to find a fun way for kids and adults to get involved in this charity fundraiser. The signature sponsor of the 11th annual Kean Quest Talent Search is Trib Total Media.
Event sponsors include: Armstrong, Audible Images, Beautiful Buys Thrift Shoppes, Consolidated Communications, Cookson Peirce Wealth Management, DKYS&B Attorneys at Law, Donner Farber & Assoc., Gordon Food Service, Farmers Bank, In Tune With The Arts, NET Xperts, Northern Connection Magazine, Paracca Interiors, Parks Moving and Storage, Rudolph Auto Repair, Schellhaas Funeral Home, Subway, Wells Fargo and WPXI.

2014 Kean Quest Schedule
Youth Preliminary Rounds
Sunday, January 26
Sunday, February, 16
Sunday, March 2
Sunday, March 16
Youth Semi-Finals
Sunday, March 30
Adult Championship
Friday, April 4
Youth Championship
Friday, April 11

To register, call 724-625-3770 or visit www.KeanTheatre.com. There is a $30 registration fee to enter.