CHAMPION — Emebet Banga, 13, was named the overall winner of the 2025 Valley’s Got Talent Kids Edition for her solo violin performance of Joseph-Hector Fiocco’s “Allegro.” -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — Area youths demonstrated their talents and faith during the fourth-annual Valley’s Got Talent Kids Edition at the Sycamore Youth Center Sunday.

Awarding $500 in cash prizes, the Christian talent competition spotlighted local kids ages 9 to 13 who showed off their skills as singers, instrumentalists, dancers and mime artists. Only standing room remained for the show, which saw violinist Emebet Banga, 13, emerge as the overall winner.

“It was the best Valley’s Got Talent Kids Edition show we’ve ever had,” said Sycamore Center Executive Director Bobbyjon Bauman afterward. “Top to bottom, the talent was off the charts. … It was nice to see the support for the kids from the community, and I think God was glorified tonight in the kids’ performances. The judges had a very tough job picking who was the winner, and all the kids did a great job.”

The Kids Edition is a more recent offshoot of the Valley’s Got Talent for area youths ages 13 to 23. Taking place in the Steubenville High School auditorium, that competition has been recurring yearly since 2014.

“The genesis of it happened around 11-and-a-half years ago,” Bauman recalled. “I was watching America’s Got Talent and I thought: ‘What if we did one of these types of competitions that has a Christian base, and they sing Christian songs and dance to Christian music?'”

TALENTED BUNCH — All participants in the 2025 Valley’s Got Talent Kids Edition gathered on the Sycamore Youth Center’s stage. -- Contributed

Both competitions are initiatives of the Sycamore Center, a Biblically based non-profit organization under the Ohio Valley Youth Network.

The center provides 64 free after-school classes for kids Monday through Friday, with some groups also meeting on weekends. Classes include sewing, cooking, music, art, drama, entrepreneurship and much more.

Last year’s VGT Kids Edition winner, Destiny Angelucci, presented the overall winner award to Banga, who performed Joseph-Hector Fiocco’s “Allegro.”

A seventh grader at Steubenville Catholic Central High School, Banga has been playing the violin for eight years. In the run-up to VGT, she put in some extra hours of practice.

“I’ve been working a lot, like every day,” she said, adding that other participants performed well, and to be the overall winner is “really nice.”

Taking first place in the vocal group category was the God’s Creation Choir, composed of Anya Lensing, 10, Bishop John King Mussio Elementary School and homeschool students Felicity Lensing, 10; Agatha Lensing, 12; Ruth Wingerter, 8, and Coeli Wingerter, 11.

Taking first in the original songwriter category for his piece “Falling Into the Arms of the Lord” was Evan Conn, 13, grade seven, Indian Creek Middle School.

Runner-up in the choir category was the Next Level Community Choir, which performed “Inside Out” by the Mississippi Children’s Choir. Taking first was the Sycamore Classical Choir, which performed “The Jesus Prayer” by Deacon Tim Woods.

Runner-up in the miscellaneous category was the Mighty Disciples Mime Team. Taking first were Ja’seir Luke, 12, grade six, Harding Middle School, and Kirk Singleton, 10, grade five, ICMS, for their mime performance of “God Starts with a Dreamer” by Eddie Long.

Runner-up in the dance soloist category was Evelyn Geary, 10, grade five, Harding, who danced to “Bring on the Rain” by Keri Noble. Taking first place was Lexa Davis, 10, grade five, Harding, who danced to “Angels Among Us” by Demi Lovato.

Runner-up in the instrumentalist category were Alethia Sirilla, 12, grade eight, homeschool, and Philomena Englert, 12, grade eight, homeschool, who performed “Ave Maria” by Charles Gounod and Johann Sebastian Bach. Taking first place was Joseph Seibert, 13, grade eight, homeschool, who performed “How Great Thou Art.”

Taking third place in the dance group category were the Sycamore Children’s Folk Dancers for their Lithuanian folk dance medley. Finishing in second place were the Dance Force Elite Minis composed of Ellie Busick, 8, Wells Academy; Logan Hickey, 8, Wells Academy, and Londyn Crummit, 9, Edison Elementary School, who danced to “God is With Us” by The Afters. Taking first place were the Dance Force Elite rising Stars composed of Harper Kurner, 11, ICMS; Quinn Allogia, 11, ICMS; Avrie Deah, 11, Harding and Lexa Davis.

Runner-up in the vocal soloist with instrument category was Elisa Morris, 10, grade four, BJKM, who performed “Ode to Joy” by Ludwig Van Beethoven. Taking first place was Dylan Osaba, 9, grade four, Pugliese West Elementary School, who performed “Jesus Loves Me.”

Taking third place in the vocal soloist ages 12 to 13 category was Leroy Slappy, 12, grade seven, Harding, who sang “I Give Myself Away” by William McDowell. Finishing in second place was Skylar Hendrix, 13, grade eight, Jefferson County Christian School, who sang “Broken Vessels” by Sarah Reeves. Taking first place was Lydia Battistel, 12, grade seven, Harding, who sang “Blessings” by Laura Story.

Taking fourth place in the vocal soloist ages 9 to 11 category was Andrea Crawford, 9, grade three, McKinley STEM Academy, who sang “Things Change Bugz” by “First Grade Bugz.” Earning third place was Aaron Ashby, 11, grade six, Harding, who sang “God Help Me” By Unspoken. Finishing in second place was Story Peterson, 11, grade six, Toronto Junior High School, who sang “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten. Taking first place was Siena Mizak, 9, grade four, BJKM, who sang “Thank God I Do” by Lauren Daigle.

Aaron Ashby, who led the show’s opening prayer, shared a special message with attendees. Ashby advised young listeners not to be discouraged because others look down on them because of their youth.

“Have you ever felt like you’re too young to make a difference? Like, your voice doesn’t matter, or you have to wait until you’re older for God to use you?” Ashby asked. “Let me tell you something. God doesn’t just wait for the perfect age to call someone. He uses those who are willing, no matter how old they are.”

Ashby challenged listeners to be active in their communities now, not to worry about being perfect before acting and “step out in faith” to do great things.

Among judges for the talent competition were Darlene VanDyke, Sandy Pucci, Rick Hicks, Brent Kimball and Charlene Dawkins.

While the judges deliberated, attendees saw and heard special guest performances from previous VGT and Kids Edition overall winners: Dalana Bove, Kids Edition 2023 and VGT 2024; Lynzee Ensell VGT 2021; Destiny Angelucci, Kids Edition 2024, and Elisha Fletcher, VGT 2014.

The event was sponsored by Frankovitch, Anetakis, Simon, Decapio & Pearl LLP.