The third annual Parkland's Got Talent competition took place recently as part of Parkland Festival of the Arts.

A variety of talented and entertaining artists from throughout the community performed on the high school stage.

In total, 17 acts from rapping to violin and even speed painting showcased their talents before an enthusiastic audience.

The event was coordinated and emcee'd by Artistic Director Mark Stutz. The judges' panel was comprised of Parkland alumni, Ben Youngerman, Rachel Keppel and Dawn Rother.

Youngerman is a multitalented entertainer, sports broadcaster, voice actor and comedian who graduated from Parkland in 2005.

Hailing from the class of 2008, Rachel Keppel is also a 2012 graduate of the University of the Arts and Dawn Rother, a 2012 Syracuse graduate, who was a member of the "Sister Act" National Touring Company.

Entertainment was provided by Parkland graduate, entertainer and crooner Joseph Sibilia, who performed a Frank Sinatra tribute.

There were two divisions in this year's competition, one for younger grade school and middle school students, and the other for high school students and adults.

Winning the younger division was violinist Raphael Ettinger-Finley, a seventh grader at Springhouse Middle School, who performed "Czardas" by Monti.

In 2014, Ettinger-Finley performed with the Student Honors Recital at Carnegie Hall.

He has studied violin with Mary Ann Saylor for the past 8 years.

"My mom played violin and I just started playing too," Ettinger-Finley said.

He also enjoys playing the fiddle and being a part of the SMS orchestra.

Sayem Rahmen rapped his way to winning the older division.

Rahmen's act was a fun musical number featuring costume-clad friends dancing and acting alongside him.

"I call it my savagery crew," said Rahmen, who brought the crowd to its feet with clever lyrics such as: "My name's the Educator and I'm a devastator, levitator/always at the top like a numerator."

The competition is open not only to students, but adults in the community as well.

Cher Ramsey singer, songwriter and guitarist, performed a song she wrote titled "Savior's Rhythm."

Her husband, Dave, accompanied her on the djembe, a skin-covered goblet drum played with the hands.

Parkland's Got Talent Performers youth division included: Nicole Gaffey and Kaleigh Schmidt, sixth grade, dance; Natalie Schwartz, third grade, singer; Conrad, Sophia, Lucas Lee, eigh th, sixth and fourth graders, violin trio; Angelina Lenzer, sixth grade, dance; Nishka Rajaboina, fifth grade, singer; Raphael Ettinger-Finley, seventh grade, violin; Gigi Kuritz, fifth grade, dance; and Anna Lorenzo, fourth grade, singer.

Older Division included: Noah Kincaid, Nick Petrella, Jackson Haught, 12th and 11th grade, singer/guitar with drums; Sofia Peila, 11th grade, Irish dance; Cher Ramsey, adult, singer, guitar; Maddie Buchannan and Nicole Gagliardi, 10th grade, dance; Sayem Rahman, 12th grade, rap; Cali Wojciechowski, 12th grade, dance; Hannah Hakim, 11th grade, singer; Vai Shastri and Crew, 12th grade, Bollywood dance and Aylssa Tauber, 12th grade, speed painting.