Unicyclist Ayumi Sugizaki wants irreplaceable memories of her high school years in Canada to include winning the Langley Has Talent 2014.
The 18-year-old, Grade 12 international student from Langley Secondary tried out for the fourth annual talent competition on Sunday, and told judges she wants that special memory to hold close when she returns home to Japan this summer.
Sugizaki learned to ride a unicycle in Grade 1 in Toyko, took some classes in synchronized riding for four years as a child, then really hasn’t ridden more than a handful of times since Grade 5.
But she’s dusted off her unicycle, and been riding it around in the carport of her homestay host’s Langley City house the past few weeks getting ready for Sunday’s tryouts.
Admittedly, after 90 seconds of manoeuvring her unicycle around the stage to music, Sugizaki was out of breath. But she assured judges she could easily fill the required three-minute spot if she makes the cut.
Short of seeing a unicycle ridden during a circus act when she was a child, contest judge and sponsor Jolienne Moore of JL Model Talent Management said she hasn’t seen a unicyclist close up until Sugizaki.
“I enjoyed your energy… and you have a great skill,†Moore said.
After each performance, all three judges scored the artists and offered compliments and comments on how to improve at their craft.
Throughout the performance, but especially after hearing the praise from the judges, Sugizaki was beaming.
She was one of 26 young people who was set to audition on Sunday, added to the 32 who tried out the previous weekend.
There were about a dozen “incredibly strong†contenders who were shortlisted during the first weekend’s auditions, said talent show founder and judge Peter Luongo.
Early in the day on Sunday, he said that day’s contenders would have to offer very powerful and compelling performances to unseat any of last weekend’s shortlist.
After seeing the first handful of competitors, he said it would be a tight race.
Out of the 60 who auditioned for Langley Has Talent, only about 20 will move on to the semi-finals being held March 29 at Christian Life Assembly. The finals are being held April 12.
The artists are competing for the grand prize of $2,500 cash plus a series of additional industry prizes.
This event is organized by the four Langley Rotary Clubs, and was designed to draw attention to and begin raising money for a “much needed†theatre in this community where “this quality of local entertainment†can perform and be spotlighted, Luongo said.
As for shortlisting from this contenders, Luongo said it is a hard job, but explained a few of the factors in their decision-making process.
“Our role here, as ‘auditioners,’ because that really is what we are, is three-fold,†he said.
“One is to select the best talent, to select an array of talent, and to ensure that what the audience is coming to see is entertainment,†emphasizing that they’re looking for a variety of different types of artists, not just wanting to present an evening with only singers.
The list of semifinalist was released late Monday, Feb. 17
Organizer Smith Luongo note that the judges end up picking 26.
"After one final meeting of the three judges, the final spot was a tie," she said.
Aaron Swan
Singer
Alexandra Susheski
Acrobat
Ayumi Sugizaki
Unicycle Performer
Cassidy Hoflin
Singer
Chantelle Ward
Dancer
Dante Arias
Dancer
Hayley Bouey
Singer
Jazmine and Amanda Langset
Singers
Jessie LeBlanc and Kathleen Dunn
Singing/Musicians
Jessie Sapach
Singer/Musician
Jet Tangerine and Hugh Barbour
Singing/Guitar
Joanne Chiasson
Singer
Jordan Rodriguez
Singer
Josh Baron and Cheyenne Lewis
Singing/Guitar
Joshua Goodman
Rap/Hip Hop
Kaitlin Hartwig
Dancer
Kaiya Horvat and Kirk Musfelt
Singing/Guitar
Mark Armstrong
Guitarist
Michaela Mulder
Singer
Paige McLachlan
Dancer
Quinn and Tonic
Band
Rachel Dunn and Colson Kinna
Singing/Guitar
Rhiannon Kittson
Singer
Richie Vokes
Singer/Songwriter
Sara Garber and Kevin Wellman
Singing/Musicians
Sophi Spatzner
Dancer