The Showcase of Talent has been around five years and donated over $50,000 in music scholarships, but Tony Battaglia proved Friday the real value of this event goes beyond money.
It’s about Villagers not only displaying their talent, but also their inspirational spirit.
Battaglia has battled serious illness and he slowly moved his walker on the floor of La Hacienda Recreation Center, just beneath the center of the stage.
He was the last performer scheduled. The house lights burned brightly as Battaglia settled in his walker chair and gazed down at the floor, in a reflective, almost prayerful mood as the music started.
Then, he lifted up his head and started singing, “Your Raise Me Up,” in a tender voice. The house lights went black and a spotlight focused on Battaglia.
“When I am down and my soul is so weary,” he softly began the number, growing with vocal power as the song went on. By the end, Battaglia’s effort thoroughly moved the crowd. The people clapped, cheered and yelled “bravo” — not only for the song but the man.
“I always sing with emotion,” Battaglia said. “It comes from the heart.”
“What Tony did tonight is what the Showcase of Talent is all about,” said Diana Arlt, who started the event for Villagers with her husband, Joe. “It was a wonderful performance.”
The night began with a donation. Joe and Diana Arlt presented a $6,000 check to Walter and Barbara Griffith of The Jazz Lovers Club of The Villages.
The money will be used for the Bob Washington Jazz Scholarships. “We have donated over $50,000 since we started the Showcase of Talent,” Diana Arlt said before the show began. “We want to give Villagers a chance to perform, but we want to help young musicians, too.”
“This money means a lot to the young people who will get the scholarships,” Walter Griffith said. “It’s incredibly generous and we are so grateful to Joe and Diana.”
The Jazz Lovers’ Club will announce a total of $15,000 in scholarship student awards during the performance finals on April 29, in Laurel Manor Recreation Center.
Battaglia wasn’t the only performer in dynamic form on Friday.
Georgianne Hill, best known for her Cher tribute shows, displayed her individual talent. She sang, a Barbara Mandrell song, “Years.”
Hill knows how to sell a song and move an audience. She sang with authenticity and put a personal stamp on the number.
“I think I have to be myself and I think people appreciate what I can do as a singer,” Hill said afterwards. “I still want to do Cher, but it’s so satisfying when I can be myself and sing as myself.”
A dancing highlight opened the show when the Chinese Cultural Dance Group, dressed in colorful costumes, brought elegant choreography to the stage.
“Our goal is to bring happiness to people,” Annie Ting said. “We practice hard but we have a lot of fun.”
Villages’ singer Irene Pierce gave a sultry feel to “I’ve Got A Crush on You,” and she was joined on stage by a couple of smooth waltzing dancers: Joe Sieczka and Shirley McHugh.
John Manion made like Frank Sinatra on “Summer Wind” and Gary Kress paid tribute to Nat King Cole with “Mona Lisa.” Joe Sieczka brought back memories of Dean Martin on “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head.”
Sonny Bartley and Tricia Barron had some fun with Conway Twitty’s country tearjerker, “Don’t Cry Joni.” James Vikulec teamed with Gayle Marra and BJ Odendahl for some sweet harmony on “Teach Your Children.” Patrick O’Brien and The Sweethearts played it cool on an old Bobby Darin number, “Things.”
Diana Arlt showed her vocal range on a couple of standards: Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and a deeply moving John Lennon song, “In My Life.”
