Local fiddle player loses bid for national show
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on January 11, 2007 2:01 PM
Local fiddle player Samantha Casey, 10, lost out in the first round of competition in the CBS News talent contest, "Living Room Live ... Kids!"
The show announced this morning that Kaleena Hutchins of Melbourne, Ark., who played the "William Tell Overture" on the harmonica, won the round, receiving the majority of online votes cast.
Samantha, a student at St. Mary School, is well-known in the Wayne County area. She plays often with her father, Daniel, a bluegrass musician.
Her father said this morning that he was disappointed that she did not advance but that he was just glad that Samantha had the opportunity to compete.
"It was a great experience for her," Casey said. "She's going to keep on picking and singing and doing her thing."
Wayne County already has one competitor in the contest who has advanced to the final round of competition. Madeline Edwards, 11, a student at Eastern Wayne Middle School, won in the second round of competition last week. She is a classical singer and performed a song from an opera for her talent.
Madeline will eventually compete against the winners of the next two finalists rounds. The champion will go to New York and perform.