Songwriter competitors perform Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ as a duet for the crowd gathered to enjoy Duncan Has Talent Friday, July 26. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

Songwriter competitors perform Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ as a duet for the crowd gathered to enjoy Duncan Has Talent Friday, July 26. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen)

VIDEO: Phillip Schneider sings his way to first place and $300 in Duncan Has Talent

Sierra Compton and Phillip Schneider perform a duet as an extra special treat for crowd and judges

Duncan Has Talent’s very challenging original songs competition only drew two brave competitors this year but they put on a super show.

Phillip Schneider won first place and the $300 prize for the Duncan Lions, with Sierra Compton winning second and $200. Each presented two songs.

Because there were only two of them, the judges, Cathy Schmidt, Laura Cardriver, and Robyn Fortunat challenged them during the Thursday mentorship session to present a duet for the finals on Friday.

They did it, too, surpising Schmidt by singing Leonard Cohen’s famous ‘Hallelujah’, which is her favourite song.

At the end, it was a tight decision, according to the judges, with Schneider taking first.

This week, it’s the last of the Duncan Has Talent categories: instrumentals.

So, if you know a young guitarist, keyboardist, violinist, or any other talents young instrumentalist, tell them to get to Charles Hoey Park by 5 p.m. Wednesday (or Thursday at a pinch: tell the judges) and take your shot at the prizes: $300 for first, $200 for second, and $100 for third.

Cowichan Valley Citizen