Writer / Matt Keating
Photography Provided
Parker Applegate, a fifth grader at Stony Creek Elementary School, recently won the “Noblesville’s Got Talent” competition, and he couldn’t be happier.
His mom, Molly Applegate, says Parker thoroughly enjoyed being in the program.
“‘Noblesville’s Got Talent’ is a talent show that takes place annually at Noblesville High School, and is a fundraiser for the Noblesville High School choral department,” Molly Applegate says.
Many students participated in the entertaining show.
“The first 16 students to submit an entry get to perform in the program,” Applegate says. “There are three rounds of performances starting with all 16 students. Then, by an audience vote, eight students continue on to the second round, and three perform in the final round.”
Solo acts and groups compete with family-friendly entertainment acts for a $200 prize.
For the first round, Parker sang “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman.”
“For the second round he sang ‘You Will Be Found’ from the musical ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’” Applegate says. “For the final round he sang ‘I Thank God’ by Maverick City Music.”
Parker spent a lot of time rehearsing for the program, and it showed when he performed for an enthusiastic audience.
“When we learned about the ‘Noblesville’s Got Talent’ program toward the beginning of last September, Parker already had two songs prepared that he had sung during the summer,” Applegate says. “At that time he added another song for the third round, just in case he had the opportunity to perform it.”
She adds that Parker had about two weeks to learn his third song, “I Thank God.”
“This turned out to be his favorite song to perform for an audience,” Applegate says.
Parker is already eying more singing as he gets older.
“He would like to include singing as a part of his high school experience,” Applegate says. “He looks forward to future opportunities to perform.”
Parker wants to give a shout-out to his vocal coach and friend, Kathryn Henricksen, for encouraging him, and helping him to improve his voice and prepare each song.
Applegate says Parker also takes voice lessons and some piano lessons.
“He also wanted to mention that the audience is what really made the program fun,” she says. “The music students at Noblesville High School were so encouraging, positive and supportive. After the first time they cheered during his song, he forgot about any nerves he initially had.”
When he’s not performing, Parker has other interests. He enjoys leading small groups of younger kids at church on Sundays.
“Parker loves sports and all things social,” Applegate says. “He runs track and cross country, and plays basketball, flag football and baseball.”
The Student Spotlight is sponsored by Kluth-Richardson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.
