The sold-out Calhoun’s Got Talent show brought in a full house as 23 contestants performed at the HAC (Harris Art Center) on Saturday night, Jan. 23.

The audiences voted on which contestants were eliminated, and which contestants would move to the next round of the competition.

Each audience member was given a ballot to choose their three top favorite performers of the night.

Beverly Forster, chairman of Calhoun’s Got Talent, came up with the idea for the event.

“I plan on making this an annual event, and I hope it gets bigger and bigger each year,” she said.

Forster thought up the idea of bringing different individuals to the HAC, and letting Calhoun see their talents and abilities.

Forster said, she and the committee did not know any of the contestants before they entered the contest.

The committee had over 40 contestants apply to perform, and the committee agreed to shrink the number down, Forster said.

The committee sliced the number in half by watching and listening to each individual perform; she said it was a hard choice, but they ended up picking 23 contestants to go on to the competition.

Forster said, there will be two more rounds of Calhoun’s Got Talent following the one this past Saturday.

The committee will announce the winner of the competition, who will receive $500, Feb 6.

Many of the contestants’ faces shone as they performed, and many smiled excitingly giving the audience their all.

The audience put their hands together for contestant, Myrian Freeman, who shook up the crowd, singing, “All I Wanna Do.”

“I’m so nervous and excited all at the same time,” Freeman said before the show began on Satur-day night.

The crowd went crazy for Scott Cooper, who impersonated Elvis Presley wearing a white jeweled, glittery outfit, singing, “CC Rider.”

While most contestants sang, two female contestants chose to dance, leaving the crowd applauding.

Megan Treglown impressed the audience with an interpretive dance to “I Hope You Dance.”

Another performer, Hannah Ramey sang “Some Kind Of Wonderful.”

“(Hannah’s) never done anything like this before,” said her mother Trace Ramey.

After the show, various committee members said they were explicitly pleased with the show turnout and performances.

They also said they were astonished by how many talented individuals were competing in the show.

“The show was awesome, and it was better than I hoped, and all the performers shined so bright,” said, Alan Rabon, HAC Program Director.

Sondra Hanna, director of Calhoun’s Got Talent, agreed with Rabon.

“I’ve been all over the world, and I have seen so many shows, and tonight’s show was by far the best one I have ever seen,” said Hanna.

Contestants who were nominated to go on and perform this upcoming Saturday night, Jan. 30: Tennille Aker, Ron Amyx, Heather Smith, LaBreeska Harris, Claire Norman, Hannah Ramey, Myrian Freeman, Megan Treglown, Kaytlyn Reese, Holly Stewart, Savannah Rose Daniel, Scott Cooper,Heather Mayfield Weller, Tiffany Trammell, Heather Hall, April Wehunt and Dan DeFoor.

Contestants who were eliminated on Saturday night, Jan. 23: Marguerite Memola, Randy Ladner, Michelle Estes, Claude Jones, Jessica Long, and Sarah Pierce.

Vote for your favorite starting Monday at the Calhoun Times website. Votes at the website do not count toward the actual contest.