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News last updated on Nov. 6
TAMPA - Six Floridians qualified in Talent Quest Florida and will make the trip to Laughlin,
Nev., in September to compete in the national Talent Quest competition Sept. 21-28.
One male and one female were chosen from each category to represent the State of
Florida after "top ten" performers were announced at The Ritz Ybor Sunday, Aug. 24. Each
finalist performed in front of a packed house.
In the 50-and-older division, Belleview finalist Denise Tyler took the top honors. Her male
counterpart is Gene Goudy Jr., of Englewood.
Florida will be represented in the Country category by Fort Myers' contestant Michael
Palomba. The female division will feature Cecilia Alfonso, who qualified from Jupiter, Fla.
Francilia Benjamin of St. Petersburg won the women's contemporary category and Lonza
Bartlett of Fort Myers took first in the men's division.
By winning their category, each finalist has earned their entry fee, hotel stay and unable
to attend the national finals, the runner-ups will be invited to participate.
unable to attend the national finals, the runner-ups will be invited to participate.
"This contest was just amazing this year and I think the hard work we put into this thing
really showed on that stage Sunday," said Talent Quest Florida co-owner Phil Garris. "I'm
very pleased with the selections our judges made. It wasn't easy and we had some tight
scores."
In all, more than 130 contestants from across the state participated in Talent Quest
Florida 2008, making this year's contest the largest in its eight year history. Garris and
Steve Blanchard, who emceed the finals, took over the contest in 2004 when it was a
modest one night event in St. Petersburg.
"The positive feedback we've received this year has been overwhelming," Blanchard said.
"It's hard to make everyone happy and of course there's some disappointment among
contestants who didn't make top 10 or didn't win. But everyone has been incredibly nice
and respectful of our contest and that really means a lot. It makes me proud of Talent
Quest Florida and every contestant and supporter we had in that theater."
Photos and videos from the finals will be posted within the coming days.
Nev., in September to compete in the national Talent Quest competition Sept. 21-28.
One male and one female were chosen from each category to represent the State of
Florida after "top ten" performers were announced at The Ritz Ybor Sunday, Aug. 24. Each
finalist performed in front of a packed house.
In the 50-and-older division, Belleview finalist Denise Tyler took the top honors. Her male
counterpart is Gene Goudy Jr., of Englewood.
Florida will be represented in the Country category by Fort Myers' contestant Michael
Palomba. The female division will feature Cecilia Alfonso, who qualified from Jupiter, Fla.
Francilia Benjamin of St. Petersburg won the women's contemporary category and Lonza
Bartlett of Fort Myers took first in the men's division.
By winning their category, each finalist has earned their entry fee, hotel stay and unable
to attend the national finals, the runner-ups will be invited to participate.
unable to attend the national finals, the runner-ups will be invited to participate.
"This contest was just amazing this year and I think the hard work we put into this thing
really showed on that stage Sunday," said Talent Quest Florida co-owner Phil Garris. "I'm
very pleased with the selections our judges made. It wasn't easy and we had some tight
scores."
In all, more than 130 contestants from across the state participated in Talent Quest
Florida 2008, making this year's contest the largest in its eight year history. Garris and
Steve Blanchard, who emceed the finals, took over the contest in 2004 when it was a
modest one night event in St. Petersburg.
"The positive feedback we've received this year has been overwhelming," Blanchard said.
"It's hard to make everyone happy and of course there's some disappointment among
contestants who didn't make top 10 or didn't win. But everyone has been incredibly nice
and respectful of our contest and that really means a lot. It makes me proud of Talent
Quest Florida and every contestant and supporter we had in that theater."
Photos and videos from the finals will be posted within the coming days.
| Six get tickets to National Finals in Laughlin, Nevada |
| LONZA BARTLETT TAKES TOP HONORS Palomba, Goudy and Benoit place in top 5 |
Lonza Bartlett of Fort Myers
took the men's contemporary
title at the Talent Quest
national finals in Lauglin
Nevada in Septembr 2008.
Bartlett advanced to nationals
after claiming the top place in
the Talent Quest Florida pop
category in Tampa Aug. 24. .
Bartlett sang the Stevie
Wonder hit "Superstitious" to
take first. This is the first time
Talent Quest Florida has
produced a national winner.
But Bartlett wasn't alone with
his trophy. Three other
Floridians walked away with
trophies as well.
took the men's contemporary
title at the Talent Quest
national finals in Lauglin
Nevada in Septembr 2008.
Bartlett advanced to nationals
after claiming the top place in
the Talent Quest Florida pop
category in Tampa Aug. 24. .
Bartlett sang the Stevie
Wonder hit "Superstitious" to
take first. This is the first time
Talent Quest Florida has
produced a national winner.
But Bartlett wasn't alone with
his trophy. Three other
Floridians walked away with
trophies as well.
Michael Palomba, who won the Talent Quest Florida country category in Tampa in August, took second place in the men's
country category. He is from Naples, Fla.
Talent Quest Florida 50-plus winner Eugene Goudy Jr. of Englewood, took fourth place in national category in the same
contest and North Port's Nichol Benoit, who has helped coordinate Talent Quest Florida for the past four years, took fifth
place in the women's country competition.
"We just couldn't be happier," said Phil Garris, co-owner of Talent Quest Florida. "Florida had such a strong year. Our
contingent of 21 singers were so supportive of each other and it goes back to the family feel we pride ourselves on with this
competition."
The national competition allows each singer to perform two songs before cuts are made. In the Top-20 contests, Florida held
17 of 120 slots available in six categories. Four men and four women made it into the top 20 category in pop and two men and
three women performed in the top-20 portion of the country category.
Floridians Goudy, Ruthann Sibbitt and Denise Tyler made it into the 50-plus division.
"This is what we've been working toward all year," said Steve Blanchard, co-owner of Talent Quest Florida. "It's really
rewarding to see such great performances come out of Florida this year. This is why we work so hard all year long to pull this
together."
For videos of some of the performances in nationals, visit our Video page.
country category. He is from Naples, Fla.
Talent Quest Florida 50-plus winner Eugene Goudy Jr. of Englewood, took fourth place in national category in the same
contest and North Port's Nichol Benoit, who has helped coordinate Talent Quest Florida for the past four years, took fifth
place in the women's country competition.
"We just couldn't be happier," said Phil Garris, co-owner of Talent Quest Florida. "Florida had such a strong year. Our
contingent of 21 singers were so supportive of each other and it goes back to the family feel we pride ourselves on with this
competition."
The national competition allows each singer to perform two songs before cuts are made. In the Top-20 contests, Florida held
17 of 120 slots available in six categories. Four men and four women made it into the top 20 category in pop and two men and
three women performed in the top-20 portion of the country category.
Floridians Goudy, Ruthann Sibbitt and Denise Tyler made it into the 50-plus division.
"This is what we've been working toward all year," said Steve Blanchard, co-owner of Talent Quest Florida. "It's really
rewarding to see such great performances come out of Florida this year. This is why we work so hard all year long to pull this
together."
For videos of some of the performances in nationals, visit our Video page.
| Home of 2009 National Contemporary winner LONZA BARTLETT |
| Welcome to Talent Quest Florida 2009 |
Welcome to the new home page for Talent Quest Florida. After wrapping the most successful year of
Talent Quest Florida's history, we are looking forward to an even better and brighter 2009!
In 2008, we traveled to 11 venues in 11 different cities across the Sunshine State to invite the best
of the best to compete in our regional finals. In August, the regional contest brought out more than
130 singers from across state to The Ritz Ybor in Tampa. It was three fun-filled, stressful, nervous
days for our singers and their supporters.
We took six contestants from our regional finals to Laughlin, Nevada, where they competed for the
national title. Our own Lonza Bartlett became the first-ever first place finisher from Florida walked
away with the number one trophy in the Men's Contemporary category.
Bartlett wasn't alone on that stage the night of the national finals. Michael Polomba, our 2008 Men's
Country winner, took second place in the national contest and our 50-plus male, Gene Goudy took a
very respectable fourth-place trophy. Nichol Benoit, who has been a staffer for Talent Quest Florida
the past three years placed fifth in the Women's Country category.
To say 2008 was a success for Talent Quest Florida is an understatement, and our competitors and
their friends, families and fans seem to agree. We overwhelmingly received positive comments and
are excited to do it all again for 2009.
We are currently looking for venues throughout the state and for sponsors to help fund this
incredible contest. Contact us at Phil@TalentQuestFlorida.com or by calling 727-374-8072 for more
information. Check back to this site often. We'll update venues as they come in!
Talent Quest Florida's history, we are looking forward to an even better and brighter 2009!
In 2008, we traveled to 11 venues in 11 different cities across the Sunshine State to invite the best
of the best to compete in our regional finals. In August, the regional contest brought out more than
130 singers from across state to The Ritz Ybor in Tampa. It was three fun-filled, stressful, nervous
days for our singers and their supporters.
We took six contestants from our regional finals to Laughlin, Nevada, where they competed for the
national title. Our own Lonza Bartlett became the first-ever first place finisher from Florida walked
away with the number one trophy in the Men's Contemporary category.
Bartlett wasn't alone on that stage the night of the national finals. Michael Polomba, our 2008 Men's
Country winner, took second place in the national contest and our 50-plus male, Gene Goudy took a
very respectable fourth-place trophy. Nichol Benoit, who has been a staffer for Talent Quest Florida
the past three years placed fifth in the Women's Country category.
To say 2008 was a success for Talent Quest Florida is an understatement, and our competitors and
their friends, families and fans seem to agree. We overwhelmingly received positive comments and
are excited to do it all again for 2009.
We are currently looking for venues throughout the state and for sponsors to help fund this
incredible contest. Contact us at Phil@TalentQuestFlorida.com or by calling 727-374-8072 for more
information. Check back to this site often. We'll update venues as they come in!