Out & About: Karaoke fundraiser proves 'Westmoreland Has Talent'
It wasn’t your run-of-the-mill karaoke night.
The performers brought a little something extra to Westmoreland Has Talent, a fundraiser for the Westmoreland Diversity Coalition, held June 25 at Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield.
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg president Robert Gregerson channeled Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top with a beard, fuzzy guitar and cheap sunglasses for a rousing rendition of the Texas trio’s song of the same name.
Maria LaVelle, CEO of Pheple Federal Credit Union, accompanied Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” with her own dance moves.
Rabbi Lenny Sarko of Congregation Emanu-El Israel in Greensburg did what rabbis do, he said, as he educated the audience on the meaning of his Hebrew language song selections, “Hinei Mah Tov” and “Oseh Shalom.” He also played guitar.
Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew and his wife, Cyndi, shared the significance of choosing “Unforgettable,” by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole — the song was played at their wedding reception.
Vanessa Beggs showed off her professional pipes on “House of the Rising Sun.” A voice coach and performer known locally as half of the duo The Heavenly Biscuits, Beggs said she felt like “a proud mama” as she coached karaoke participants and watched their singing skills and confidence increase.
Westmoreland Cultural Trust staff members Adam Seifert and Melissa Raichel, also performers in their own right, received a resounding ovation for belting out “Shallow,” the popular Lady Gaga-Bradley Cooper duet from “A Star is Born.”
Penn State New Kensington Chancellor Kevin Snider also eschewed the canned accompaniment, playing his own guitar for a medley of ’70s rock classics, culminating with an audience sing-along to the chorus of “American Pie.” He then asked the audience for a word to use in a song created on the spot and was rewarded with “kumquat.”
WDC co-founder Carlotta Paige wrapped the evening’s entertainment with a soulful take on Adele’s “Lovesong,” which she called her “cougar song” in memory of her late husband, who was somewhat younger.
Each act was given a tip jar for audience members to make monetary votes for their favorite performer. When the votes were tallied, WDC board member Al Thiel announced the Chews as people’s choice.
Emcee for the evening was Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce president/CEO Dan DeBone.
In the audience: WDC co-founder Rabbi Sara Perman, April Kopas, Dirk and Theresa Matson, Sheila Cuellar-Shaffer, Teresa Baughman and Steve Herda, Momodu Taylor, Erica Adams, Lurene Moore, Mark Mortimer, Jim and Tiffani Nieusma, Linda Stein, Kathy Birkos and Violet Skacel.
Proceeds from the event will benefit programs of the coalition, whose mission is to “create, through advocacy and education, an atmosphere of understanding and unity in Westmoreland County where all people feel welcome.”
For more information, visit wdcoalition.org.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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