West Allegheny Youth Wins Kean Quest Audience Choice Award

Shane Treloar may be small in stature, but the 12-year-old from North Fayette Township has a voice far beyond his size, according to officials with the Kean Quest Talent Search.

Dressed in black and accented with a green vest and tie in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Shane sang “Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone” by Chris Tomlin on Sunday during the first semi-final round of the 2013 Kean Quest, formerly Kean Idol. 

Shane was voted the favorite among the 29 acts that performed at the Kean Theatre and received the Audience Choice Award.

Shane is a sixth-grader at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial. His hobbies include tap dancing, drawing and singing.

Based on scores from a panel of judges, Shane and 13 others from the first semi-final round will move onto the Youth Finals scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 5. 

Jackie Evancho is schedule to appear when she presents the third annual “Jackie Evancho Award” at the finals. Jackie first appeared in the Kean Idol talent contest herself when she was only 7 years old and was first runner-up in 2008 and 2009.

Jackie received international attention when she was runner-up in the popular TV show “America’s Got Talent.” Her resume includes platinum records and sold-out concerts.

A limited number of Kean Quest Youth Finals tickets are available starting at $14 and can be purchased by calling 724-444-KEAN (5326).  Finalists are:

• Hope Albert, Apollo
• Ashlyn Beatrice, New Brighton
• Christina Dantam, Poland, OH
• Madeline Dick, O’Hara
• Brittany Dlliott, Arnold
• Sabrina Knox, Valencia
• Karac O’Brien, Valencia
• Arianna Ranallo, Venetia
• Grace Rusnica, Hempfield Twp.
• Kolette Tetlow, Mt. Lebanon
• Morgan Traud, Whitehall
• Jordann Versaw, Mars
• Maura Yates, Sewickley

The 2013 Kean Quest Talent Search fundraising competition is sponsored by St. Barnabas Health Care Systems in Richland Township and benefits the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, which in 2012 provided nearly $4.5 million to poor and low-income residents.