While people across America and around the world are showcasing their varied talents on America’s Got Talent and its related spin-offs, Berks County is teeming with young talent, too. Meet eight kids with varying talents residing in local communities, here.
Photo by Tania Colamarino, Ama Photography
Julian Colamarino, 14: The Magician
Attends: Governor Mifflin Middle School
Parents: Tania and Tony Colamarino
What’s your favorite movie? Venom
Tell us about your talent: I do sleight of hand card tricks. It is not magic; it is your eyes and mind not seeing what my hands are doing.
Who inspires you? My family and my cousin, Wayne Hoffman.
What special accomplishments have you achieved? I just did my first trade show and have performed at my school talent show.
What are your goals moving forward? I want to continue to improve my sleight of hand tricks and to volunteer at kids’ hospitals to show them tricks to cheer them up.
Dream job? I want to be an entertainer.
Photo by Tania Colamarino, Ama Photography
Catie Annabel, 13: The Acrobat
Attends: Fleetwood Middle School and Dance Fusion Studio
Parents: Bridgette Appleby and Charles Annabel
Favorite thing to do with friends: Have sleepovers and go to the movies!
Tell us about your talent: I taught myself how to use handstand canes after watching Sophie Dossie on America’s Got Talent. My stepfather made my first pair. I'm always working on new moves to perfect!
Who inspires you? My dance teachers Megan Delp and Staci Futrick, as well as Sophie Dossie.
What special accomplishments have you achieved? I have won several first-place awards at dance competitions. I won a special judges’ award for strength, showing that girls can be strong and beautiful. I maintain highest honors at school while dancing three hours every night.
What are your goals moving forward? I hope to pursue additional training in acrobatics and contortion, and to continue to compete at national dance competitions and conventions.
Dream job? I dream of being a cast member of Cirque Du Soleil.
Photo by Tania Colamarino, Ama Photography
Isaac Velazquez, 14: The Dancer
Attends: Governor Mifflin Middle School
Parents: Rafael and Tonya Velazquez
What’s your OTHER favorite hobby? A few hobbies other than dancing include photography and managing my YouTube channel. I really enjoy taking dance photos of my friends and of myself. My love for photography started around last year when I realized I could take awesome shots of my friends at our recital. Managing my channel has been pretty fun since I started it about a year and a half ago.
Tell us about your talent: I’m a dancer. I’ve been taking dance classes for 11 years at Dance Expressions. I dance Lyrical, Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Couples, Hip Hop, Hip Hop Couples, and Acro, andI take Technique and Core Fit classes.
Who inspires you? Many different people inspire me to do a variety of things. One of my main sources of inspiration comes from my mom. Words can’t describe how much I love her. She goes above and beyond every single day by caring for not only me but my entire family. When I am feeling out of it, she always finds a way to bring joy into my life. She’s been and will continue to be my number one fan, as she encourages me to do great things. I aspire to be as wonderful as her each and every day. Another person I will always look up to is my friend Summer, an extremely close friend of mine from dance who never fails to make me happy. There is never a moment that she does not inspire me to try harder and push past my limits. Some of my “celebrity” inspirations include Charity and Andres, Brady Farrar and Aydin Eyikan. They amaze me every time I watch them dance.
What special accomplishments have you achieved? Future Star Award from NYCDA, performing in the Reading Holiday Parade for 8 years with Dance Expressions
What are your goals moving forward? Some of my goals moving forward are for my studio to attend more dance competitions so that I can compete. I want to continue to push myself past my limits in order for me to be the best dancer I can be. Also, I also want to go to a college where I can perform dance and that will help me turn dance into a career.
Dream job? It definitely needs to include dance.
Photo by Heather Rose Brinckerhoff, Legoland FL
Ahnya O'Riordan, 14: The Entertainer
Attends: Exeter Sr. High School/Brandywine Virtual School; dances at Aftershock Dance Studio and acts at Acting Up Studio (both in Reading).
Parents: Richard and LaKisha O'Riordan
Favorite place to visit: My favorite vacation spot is Bermuda, and my favorite place where I've performed on stage was in San Diego, CA.
Tell us about your talent: I've been singing and dancing since I was 4. I started competing in dance very young and singing on stage for small crowds at age 5. When I was about 9, I started modeling for print and commercials. I started acting a few years later. I also like to write music and play my ukulele.
Who inspires you? I like all kinds of music and artists. I have always loved Whitney Houston, Queen, Adele, Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson and so many more. I love Zendaya because she's amazing and has been able to do it all: act, sing, dance, model — all the things I love to do. Plus, she was a KIDZ BOP Kid, like me.
What special accomplishments have you achieved? I have been in commercials and print ads.My coolest adventure was spending the last 2.5 years being a KIDZ BOP Kid. During my KIDZ BOP career, we recorded and put out 9 full-length CDs, made tons of music videos, and toured the US performing live for thousands of fans at a time, doing more than 50 shows a year. I've had the opportunity to meet so many interesting people, including many I have looked up to, including Zendaya!
What are your goals moving forward? I'm really excited to get more into my acting side. I've hit the ground running in 2019, working on opportunities that allow me to move into the world of motion pictures and television.
Dream job? My dream job as an entertainer would be any job that allows me to do all the things I love: act, sing and dance. I have also always wanted to be a doctor, because I love helping people.
Gianna Turner, 10: The Actress
Attends: Cumru Elementary
Parents: Korissa and Steve Turner
What's your favorite song? I have two: 2002 by Anne Marie and Human by Christina Perry.
Tell us about your talent: I am an aspiring actress. I have been in a few movies and tv shows, and I hope one day to “make it big.” I also do competitive dance at Dance Your Dreams and take vocal lessons with Jenifer Kinder.
Who inspires you? My dance and singing teachers inspire me the most to keep trying until I succeed.
What special accomplishments have you achieved? I have won first place in a trio in a dance competition; I have been in movies with Justin Timberlake, Kate Winslet, Melissa McCarthy and Joaquin Phoenix. I also was a feature in a Netflix film called Into the Woods.
What are your goals moving forward? I want to achieve new tricks in dance and land a feature role in a major film.
Dream job? My dream job would be to become a special education teacher!
Sutton Dareneau, 14: The Instrumentalist
Attends: Wyomissing Junior Senior High School
Parents: Thomas and Jennifer Dareneau
Who is your celebrity idol? Marcus Mumford from the band Mumford & Sons
Tell us about your talent: I play three different instruments: banjo (for 6 years), double bass (for 5 years), and piano (for 10 years), and I sometimes sing vocal accompaniment.
Who inspires you? Taylor Swift. She started off with performing and writing music when she was about my age and has worked really hard to get where she is now. (Bonus: she has a Berks County background!)
What special accomplishments have you achieved? I've received the Dave Kline Mountain Band Scholarship for the last several years to help me pay for banjo lessons. I play bass with the Reading Symphony Orchestra Junior Strings, too.
What are your goals moving forward? My musical goal is to get into the Reading Symphony Orchestra Youth Orchestra next year.
Dream job? I want to be a microbiologist because I love to see how things work, especially how something very small can react with something else to create a big change.
Owen Harding, 11: The Daredevil
Attends: Governor Mifflin Intermediate School
Parents: Mark and Jenn Harding
Where would you love to go on vacation? Vermont, because they have the best places to ride, and I love the mountains.
Tell us about your talent: I started racing bikes on a strider bike at 2 years old, then started BMX racing at 5, and now I race downhill.
Who inspires you? Neko Mullaly, Sam Willoughby, Scotty Kramer and my dad. He used to race, too.
What special accomplishments have you achieved? I once qualified for Worlds in Belgium for BMX; District 1 in BMX cruiser; and placed third in the US Grom Bomb (even though I crashed). I have an entire room of trophies. I also swim and went to Junior Olympics last year for the backstroke.
What are your goals moving forward? To be a better rider so I can get sponsored and travel the world racing like Neko Mullaly.
Dream job? I want to be a travel photographer. I got a new camera for Christmas so I can start to learn!
Britney Jeschonek, 13: The Pageant Princess
Attends: virtual school with Brandywine Heights Area School District (Britney has autism and ADHD and hopes to inspire others!)
Parent: Crystal Jeschonek
What's your favorite TV show? My Hero Academia
Tell us about your talent: I’d say my talent would be my art skills, singing and modeling.
Who inspires you? There are three people that inspire me. First is my mom, as she’s always there for me no matter what, pushing me to do my best and reach goals, standing beside me with everything I do. Second is Samantha Evangelista. She’s a pageant sister who introduced me to USA National Miss (UNM) and helped me throughout my first year. Third is Isabella Uber, another pageant sister. She’s always so encouraging, helps with projects, and is a good friend and big sister.
What special accomplishments have you achieved? I made Top 5 with UNM, was crowned Teen Miss PA with Pageant Door and attended Nationals in March. I was also crowned Winter Role Model Queen in January with Role Models International. Another achievement would be making Select Chorus. I also earned the community service award at pageant weekend last year. Some of my community service projects have included crafting cards for the elderly for Christmas and Valentine’s, participating in annual food and toy drives, and collecting bereavement blankets for local hospitals. I also recently created Project Positivity, a group committed to sending something to a person each month who needs cheering up or support.
What are your goals moving forward? I plan to continue my pageant journey and continue my community projects and appearances that I do on a monthly basis. I will also continue working on my art and singing, and keep pushing further into the modeling world.
Dream job? My dream job would be one working with animals. I already volunteer with two animal rescues, but in the long run, I’d like to start my own or team up with Meraki Animal Sanctuary to get a location out our way. I’d also love to work with wolves, as they are one of my favorite animals.
