FINALS: Pass Has Talent Contestants Lay It On the Line at Stagecoach Days

Finalists in the Banning Cultural Alliance's 2011 Pass Has Talent competition brought Latin jazz, classic piano, country, opera and a cover of the folk blues ballad "House of the Rising Sun" to the Stagecoach Days main stage Saturday evening.

Performers raged in age from the very young to the very experienced, and they each gave something unique to the appreciative audience under an open tent on the fairgrounds near the Wild West town.

Many of the artists had to compete with the roar of rowdy lawnmower racers in the Dysart Arena close by, but no one complained.

Stagecoach Days often includes the sounds of gunfire and other distractions, and the Pass Has Talent finalists took the extra atmosphere in stride.

The dozen finalists were selected after four weeks of competition in Banning.

Pianist Ryan Lu won top honors and a $500 check, pianist-composer Ryan Odle placed second for $100, and opera vocalist Ulises Espinoza came in third for $50.

Honorable mention awards went to young dancer Sophia Partian and country guitarist-vocalist Earl Dyches, organizers said.

The other finalists were jazz artists Nu Beginnings, dancer Misty Murphy, dancer Sophia Partain, guitarist Joe Aceto, vocalist Chy'anne Smock, singer Tony Shone, and vocalist Krystine Harrison.

The Pass Has Talent competition takes its name from Banning's home in the San Gorgonio Pass, about 80 miles east of Los Angeles, in Riverside County, California.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this report incorrectly identified one of the honorable mention winners.