County’s Youth Talent Winners To Compete Saturday At State Fair

By: Betsy Reason

“Beautiful technique.” “Stunning.” And “Beautiful work in tone, style, articulation and professionalism.”
These were the words that talent judges used to describe siblings Ethan Feliciano and Ella Feliciano, who performed as a duet — Ethan on violin and Ella on the piano — to win the Overall Grand Champion Senior Division award in the Youth Talent Contest at the recent Hamilton County 4-H Fair in Noblesville. 

The Feliciano siblings qualified to move on and compete at the Indiana State Fair at 4 p.m. this Saturday at the Purdue Extension Building (formerly Farm Bureau Building) at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Admission is free to the talent show for guests paying admission to the State Fair.

The Felicianos not only “bowed together” but also dressed “appropriately” and “set an example for every young performer,” as well, the judges said.

Before being selected as Overall Grand Champion Senior Division winners, the two were named Champion Instrumental Group Senior Division winners.

Ella Feliciano said, “The ability that we have to adjust to each other and make those adjustments in the moment at the end and really end together is what I think put us over the top.”
The siblings performed “Carmen Fantasy” by Pablo de Sarasate, a fantasy on themes from Bizet’s “Carmen” for violin and piano, composed in 1881. It’s one of Sarasate’s most well-known works and often played in violin competitions because it’s challenging and technically demanding.

“Everybody knows that melody. It’s just a fun piece to play,” said Ethan Feliciano after their performance.

Ella Feliciano added, “I think it’s the dedication of having a live performance.” She described their performance: “It wasn’t ever perfect. You’re never going to have a perfect live performance.”

Ella Feliciano, 19, a former 10-year 4-H’er, is a 2023 Noblesville High School graduate and will be a junior this fall at Ball State University. Ethan Feliciano, 17, a ninth-year 4-H’er, is a senior at NHS, where classes started last Wednesday for the school year. Ethan performed with the NHS orchestra during the school’s fall musicals, “Cinderella” in 2023, and “Chicago” in 2022.  Their parents are Jack and Sara Feliciano.

In 2023, Ethan Feliciano won Reserve Grand Champion Senior Division at the 4-H Fair’s Hamilton County Youth Talent Contest and went on to compete at the  State Fair Talent Contest.

This year, their younger brother, Evan Feliciano, 13, a fifth-year 4-H’er and eighth-grader at Noblesville East Middle School, was Champion Senior Division in the Instrumental Solo category and Overall Reserve Champion Senior Division for his instrumental solo, “Sonata” on the cello.

In the Junior Division of the 2024 Hamilton County Youth Talent Contest, Amelia Peters could barely stand still as her name was announced as Overall Grand Champion in the Junior Division.

“When I was on stage, I was so scared,” the 9-year-old, a fourth-grader at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School, said. “I didn’t think I was going to get Grand Champion, but I knew I was going to get something out of it.”

She couldn’t stop smiling, sharing how she rehearsed for the talent show. “I kept singing the song over and over and over.”

The daughter of Paula Peters and Michael Peters, Amelia Peters was Champion in the Vocal Solo Junior Division and Overall Grand Champion in the Junior Division at the Hamilton County Youth Talent Contest, qualifying her to compete at the Indiana State Fair Youth Talent Contest at 11 a.m. this Saturday.

Her winning song was “Little Girls” from the “Annie” musical. Peters loves the song and will be performing this fall in the “Annie” musical at Youth Inspirations Theatre in the Hamilton County Sports Complex in Noblesville. She also likes to sing in her school choir.

This isn’t the first time that she has moved on from the 4-H Fair’s Youth Talent Contest. Previously, she did ventriloquism and moved on to compete at the State Fair.

“Her comfort zone is being on stage,” her mom said.

Peters is a member of Clover Kids 4-H Club. Her favorite 4-H project is Photography and her favorite foods at the 4-H Fair are milkshakes and corn dogs. 

Favorite event at the Fair? 

The talent show?
“Probably,” said Peters, who loves to perform.

Other winners from the 4-H Fair Youth Talent Show were Abigail Montemer, Reserve Champion Instrumental Solo Senior Division; Archita Nath, Reserve Champion Vocal Solo Senior Division; Sydney Strange, Champion Vocal Solo Senior Division; and McKinsey and Adeline Allen, Champion Group Novelty Senior Division.

-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Contact The Times Editor Betsy Reason at [email protected].