Video: Morristown High School friends score Classic victory in talent show

Julia Cipriani and Katherine Merwin are beaming after winning the 2013 Morristown's Got Talent! competition. Photo by Sharon Sheridan
Julia Cipriani and Katherine Merwin are beaming after winning the 2013 Morristown's Got Talent! competition. Photo by Sharon Sheridan
2

Before Wednesday night, our memory of Katherine Merwin performing at Morristown’s Got Talent! was a wispy eighth-grader with a squeaky voice.

Turns out Katherine, who sings in the choir at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, has been working diligently on her presentation.

She and piano-playing sidekick Julia Cipriani took first place at the 2013 talent show with a masterful rendition of Love’s Philosophy, a challenging classical piece by Roger Quilter based on a poem by Shelley.

Julia Cipriani and Katherine Merwin are beaming after winning the 2013 Morristown's Got Talent! competition. Photo by Sharon Sheridan
Julia Cipriani and Katherine Merwin are beaming after winning the 2013 Morristown's Got Talent! competition. They will split $1,000. Photo by Sharon Sheridan

In this video recap, MGT judges John Ginty, Denise Marsa, Bill Stephney and Michael Spencer Philips–show biz pros–laud the Morristown High School juniors for their polish and bravura.

John, a keyboard ace who has toured and recorded with Sheryl Crow, Santana, Jewel and Dixie Chicks, among others, marveled at Julia’s fluid playing and Katherine’s commanding presence.

“I worked on that!” Katherine exclaimed when the comment was relayed to her. “Because I’m kind of awkward on stage when it’s just me out there with Julia. So, that’s a really nice compliment. I wish I could thank the judges!”

The young women bested 14 other acts at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in what Bill Stephney, former president of Def Jam Records, called the strongest lineup he’s seen at this talent show, created six years ago to raise money for local school programs.

“There’s a new slogan now: ‘Morristown, We’re More than Yogurt,'” he quipped.

MORE COVERAGE OF MORRISTOWN’S GOT TALENT 2013

 

2 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY