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For Immediate Release – Christina Ria Dantam, 14, Poland, Ohio, and Grace Rusnica, 10, Hempfield Twp., won the audience’s favor performing “Pie Jesu” by Charlotte Church and “Part of Your World” from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” respectively. Voted the favorites among 31 acts, Dantam and Rusnica received the Audience Choice Awards during the Youth Preliminary Round Four of the 2013 Kean Quest Talent Search, formerly Kean Idol, on Sunday, March 10 at the Kean Theatre, 5847 Meridian Road. Dantam is a freshman at Ursuline High School in Youngstown, OH. Rusnica attends fifth grade at West Hempfield Elementary School in Irwin, PA. Shelley Duffy, co-host of 100.7 Star Morning Show and KDKA AM Lifestyle editor, served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
Based on scores from a panel of judges, Dantam, Rusnica and 16 others from the Youth Preliminary Round Four will move onto semi-final competition on Sunday, March 17. The semi-finalists are:
- Hope Albert, Apollo
- Zoe Babbit, Shaler
- Amanda Bishop, Butler
- Aubrey Burchell, Irwin
- Amarianna Busa, Gibsonia
- Sienna Dalessandro, Venetia
- Jane Fusco, Ross Twp.
- Tishy Marie Hornsby, Butler
- Paige Hurbanek, Cranberry Twp.
- Ashley Irwin, Canonsburg
- Brynn Lesher, Sewickley
- Marlee Manuel, Connoquenessing
- Nicolina Marra, Cranberry Twp.
- Karac O’Brien, Valencia
- Aria Ramanathan, Gibsonia
- Carlin Szilagyi, Pittsburgh
The 2013 Kean Quest Talent Search fundraising competition continues through April 5. Kean Quest Talent Search benefits the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, which in 2012 alone provided nearly $4.5 million to poor and low-income residents at St. Barnabas Nursing Home, Valencia Woods at St. Barnabas and The Arbors at St Barnabas who otherwise would not be able to afford their care. Tickets to the Semi-Finals are available at the door for $10. For more information on any contestant please contact Megan Hoffman at 724-444-5530 or mhoffman@stbarnabashealthsystem.com.
The Kean Theatre is open to the public and has built a reputation for its convenient location, free parking, quality entertainment and elegant setting. The theatre is operated by St. Barnabas Charities, the fund-raising arm of St. Barnabas Health System. St. Barnabas Health System includes St. Barnabas Nursing Home, Valencia Woods at St. Barnabas, The Arbors at St. Barnabas, The Village at St. Barnabas, The Woodlands at St. Barnabas, White Tail Ridge, The Washington Place at St. Barnabas, St. Barnabas Medical Center and Rudolph Auto Repair.