Scotts Valley's Got Talent

The stars will shine bright in Scotts Valley Saturday as the area’s most talented take the stage at the Search for Talent contest sponsored by the Exchange Club of Scotts Valley.

“I didn’t enter to win; I just entered because I thought it would be a great way to get a chance to perform my favorite piece, Chopin’s ‘Fantaisie Impromptu,’” said pianist Maiya Moncino, discussing her performance and first-place win at last year’s contest. “The more you perform, the better you are.”

This year’s contest will mark the 30th time that the Exchange Club has sponsored the competition, open to all kids from the first- through 12th-grades.

“Our area includes many talented young people,” said Claire Hodgin, who organizes the annual competition for the club. "We get them to participate in this fun event and give them an opportunity to shine.” 

Maiya, a senior at Scotts Valley High School, remembers, “I was really excited to watch all the talented people, kids that you wouldn’t think would have the guts to get up on stage.”

She was the last to play and says she became “super-nervous” when she sat down at the piano. “Fantaisie Impromptu” is a challenging crowd-pleaser where the pianist’s fingers run up and down the keyboard like lightning while a romantic melody courses through the piece.

“I knew I hadn’t made any mistakes, but it was a big surprise to win!” Maiya said.

She was the senior trophy winner, and brothers Jesse and Eli McMilin won the junior and primary divisions.

When she and her parents traveled to Arroyo Grande for the Central Coast Regional competition, Maiya expected more of a “hard core, cut-throat” environment, but the other contestants were “super-friendly.”

“We were not there to win. We were there to have a really good time,” Maiya said.

But the Scotts Valley pianist did win and advanced to the District Competition in Irvine, where her challengers included violinists and guitarists.

“This was the best of the best. The organizers were so supportive and the participants were so good,” she said.

The experience was so meaningful to Maiya that, “I wrote my personal statements on my college applications about that competition, how I gained such confidence, and how I learned to play that piece exactly like I wanted to.”

Although Maiya did not win the district competition, she said, “I was satisfied with myself, because it wasn’t about competition; it was about playing my favorite piece for people who would appreciate it.”

This Saturday Maiya will not be performing, but she will be sitting in the audience while her younger brother plays the piano at the Search for Talent competition.

“Our emphasis is on supporting youth,” Hodgin said. “Each participant receives a certificate of recognition; the winners receive trophies. This year, the finals will be in the Hayward area, and the winners will receive $500. The Exchange Club also provides transportation and lodging costs for the participant and an adult.”

The Search for Talent event is free and will be held this Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Bethany University Little Theatre, 800 Bethany Dr. The registration fee is $10, and Scotts Valley residency is not a requirement for entering the competition.

Call the Exchange Club of Scotts Valley at 831-438-1000 for more information.