Benefiting Permian Basin Mission Center
Watch the best of the best compete LIVE for a share of $9,000 in CASH PRIZES!
People’s Choice Award Voting open NOW through the
LIVE Finals on June 1st at The Ector Theatre!
The cause
All funds raised by Odessa’s Got Talent benefit the Permian Basin Mission Center, a 501(C)(3) interdenominational benevolent agency providing relief to individuals and families experiencing hardships.
10,000 +
Households
The Permian Basin Mission Center helps over 10,000 Basin households. PBMC provides emergency food boxes, rent assistance, utility bill assistance, clothing, and basic household necessities to clients in need. PBMC seeks to nurture and direct the clients toward an improved lifestyle.
Emergency Boxes
PBMC has given away tens of thousands of emergency food boxes (which provide enough food for a family to get through a few days) in addition to continual help with rent/mortgage payments and utility bills for families in need.
Emergency Boxes
PBMC has given away tens of thousands of emergency food boxes (which provide enough food for a family to get through a few days) in addition to continual help with rent/mortgage payments and utility bills for families in need.
How does This work?
Now that Finalists have been selected, what happens from here?
Read on.
Finalists Chosen & Announced
- The PBMC board will review auditions and select finalists.
- Finalists are announced on April 25th.
- FInalists must submit a bio and headshot for use on this website, where people can view them and cast People’s Choice Award votes ($1/vote).
- People’s Choice Award voting opens April 25th and continues through the Live finals. Finalists are highly encouraged to recruit votes!
Wow Everyone at the LIVE Finals
- Finalists will compete at the LIVE finals at the Ector Theatre on Saturday, June 1st. Finalists must attend a mandatory dress rehearsal on May 31st.
- OGT Judges will determine the winners of each category, awarding cash prizes totaling at least $8,000 to the winners of each category.
- An additional $1,000 prize will be awarded to the Finalist with the highest number of online People’s Choice Award votes.
2024 FINALISTS
Presenting your 2024 OGT Finalists!
These finalists will be competing LIVE at The Ector on June 1st!
YOUTH
Ally Bee
“16-year-old Ally has been singing since she was a little girl. She was in her first talent show when she was 5 years old and since then has been in multiple other talent shows and performed the National Anthem for various sporting events throughout the community. She regularly performs for the Midland Rockhounds. Ally’s goal is to make it on to American Idol one day. She has faith she will get her own record deal in the future and will continue to pursue her dream.”
The Baker Sisters
“Piper (14), Keller (12), and Harper (9), have been singing since they could talk. They first received nationwide attention when their family posted a song a day for the first two weeks of the Covid shutdown. The past two years, the Baker family, featuring Piper, Keller, and Harper, has sung to sold out audiences during the West Texas Symphony’s sold out holiday pops concert. A video of the Baker sisters singing the Michael Buble and Puppini Sisters’ version of Jingle Bells received over 10 million views and even received responses from both Michael Buble and the Puppini Sisters, themselves! We know you will love hearing their beautiful harmonies!”
Camila Rivera
“Ever since she was a little girl, Camila has been obsessed with music. Her dream is to become a great singer and make her own music. After winning the People’s Choice Award in 2022, she is excited to return to Odessa’s Got Talent. She can’t wait to show the audience how much she’s improved in her stage performance and voice.”
Chara Shanklin
“Chara is a violinist with 3 years of experience. She has a strong interest in music and, in addition to violin, plays guitar, bass, oboe, and clarinet. Outside of school, Chara enjoys spending time singing with the West Texas Symphony Chorale. In the future, Chara plans to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, majoring in music education. Chara wants to be an elementary music teacher to inspire young minds.”
Isaac Gonzalez
“Isaac is a 13-year-old eighth grader at IDEA Yukon. His creative mind always keeps him busy; whether singing, drawing, writing, acting, or playing the piano/keyboard. During the pandemic, Isaac taught himself how to play chords on the piano, so now one of his favorite things to do is play and sing his favorite songs. In addition, Isaac is part of the Youth Worship Team at Mid-Cities. One of his dreams is to be a professional Christian singer where he aspires to impact lives by spreading messages of faith, hope, and redemption.”
Leon Carrasco
“Leon’s music career began at 6 yrs old. Within a couple years, he was on stage with a band called Never2Young, which was honored by being invited to the international blues challenge in Memphis in 2023, winning the youth category. He was again invited in 2024 as a duo act called Twice As Nice where they made it to the Top 12 out of 217 bands from around the world.
Songwriting is his passion and he has over 30 original compositions to his name.
Leon is a graduating senior this year at Legacy High School in Midland Texas. He is a member of the varsity baseball team as a catcher and also a member of the legacy jazz band. He is a member of the Life Church. Leon plans to attend South Plains College in the fall to further his music knowledge and take full advantage of their amazing facilities and programs.”
Lily Windham
“Lily is a 16 year old high school sophomore. Her love for singing and musical theatre began when she was 6 years old playing Small Alice in her first musical. Lily has continued to work and grow in her skills, devoting her time to Basin Theatre Works, Permian High School’s Theatre , Choir, and Dance Programs, Community Bible Church’s Worship Team, Crossroads Youth Group, and several other organizations. Each organization has helped her grow as a performer and shaped who she is. In addition to her time in West Texas Lily has also trained and performed at some of the best programs in the nation including 3 years at Oklahoma City University’s Summer Music productions (Xanadu, The Adam’s Family and Sweeney Todd), The Broadway Collective, and Broadway Arts Community out of NYC! This summer Lily has been invited to attend The Juilliard School’s Musical Theatre Intensive as well as the Musical Theatre Intensive at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music at The University of Cincinnati. Lily is a proud Odessa native and excited to perform at this years Odessa’s Got Talent!”
Noel Zapata
“Noel is a 15 year old sophomore from Legacy High School. He started singing in the Saint Ann’s Spanish Choir at the age of 9, and that started his love for music. He later joined the Hispanic Cultural Center where he learned the trumpet and later taught himself to play the piano. This year, he was first alternate in the Region Mariachi and first alternate for the State Men’s Choir. He also qualified for the Texas State Solo and Ensemble contest.”
ADULT
Amanda Gomez
“Amanda Gomez is a music enthusiast who grew up surrounded by a diverse range of musical styles, from 80’s hits to country melodies, and Cumbia. Today, she finds fulfillment as a wife and mother to two girls, cherishing the joys of family life. Alongside her musical pursuits, Amanda is also a talented local photographer, capturing the beauty of her community through her lens. She shares her passion for music by performing at the local Music City Mall. Recently, Amanda gained recognition as the Grand Prize winner of last year’s Permian Basin Fair and Expo Talent Show, where her family was her proudest and biggest fans. Her journey is marked by dedication and a love for sharing her talents with others.”
Emily Baker
“Emily Baker moved to Odessa with her husband in 2006 and has been integrally involved in the local music scene ever since! Along with teaching music at Midland Classical Academy, directing Voices of the Permian Basin, the children’s choir of the West Texas Symphony, and a private studio of 22 private voice and piano students, Emily enjoys performing regularly with her husband Eric, daughters Piper, Keller and Harper, and in the band Current Nine, a local party band.”
Gisselle Lopez
“Born in San Juan Puerto Rico, Gisselle first started in music when she was 14 years old, participating as a solo singer in the university band. She had the opportunity to participate in several urban music musical productions. After working in secular music, she ventured into Christian music by participating in worship groups at church. She was recently invited to participate in a special cancer awareness event, “Working for a Cause, Not for Applause,” held at the Odessa Music City Mall. She currently serves as a worship leader at her church.”
Jen Maroney
“Jen is excited to join the fundraising effort for the Permian Basin Mission Center. Jesus, family, and the city of Odessa are dear to her heart! Jen is an Odessa native who now resides in Granbury, Tx with her husband and two children. Her recent roles in music theater include portraying Charlotte in BCE’s production of “Charlotte’s Web” and Emily in “Elf the Musical” with Granbury Theatre Company. In July 2023, Jen also won The Voice of Granbury. You might have seen Jen on stage at Midland Community Theatre from 2016 to 2020. In her spare time, Jen leads worship at StoneWater Church, where she also works in Communications. Jen wants to thank her family for their never-ending support of her musical endeavors!”
Kayli Beal
“Kayli is from a small town near Austin, TX and now lives in Odessa with her husband and fur baby, Oakley. She is a lead esthetician at Woodhouse Day Spa. Kayli loves sharing her God-given gift of playing the guitar and singing with others. She enjoys playing at local venues and traveling all over to share her voice.”
Lauren Hensley-Barker
“Lauren Hensley, a native of Levelland, Texas, currently calls Midland home, where she dedicates her talents to the Bush Convention Center. Amidst raising her six children (from 6-months-old to high school senior), Lauren finds peace and joy in her lifelong passion for singing. Her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ anchors her life, guiding her through the challenges and triumphs of motherhood and her career. You’ll either find her loving on her babies, or praising the Lord through her voice.”
Samuel David
“Samuel was born in Puerto Rico and his passion for music began at the age of 15 at a talent night. Samuel dreams of continuing to impact and bless lives through music and what God has put in him.”
Taylor Perry
“Preferring to go by Perry, 19-year-old Taylor Perry is a self-taught guitarist who plays by ear. He first picked up a guitar at 8 years old. His love for music comes from his parents’ influence who encouraged him to follow his dreams and never settle. After the devastating loss of his Grandpa in 2018, Perry discovered the power and comfort of music as he dealt with that grief. He continues to use his music to find hope and peace in the daily challenges of life.”
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD VOTING
Vote for your favorite finalist and be sure to see them perform at The Ector Theatre for the LIVE finals on June 1st!
2023 Odessa’s Got Talent Winners
Congratulations to last year’s champions! Will you join their ranks this year?
Isaac Gonzalez
2023 Youth Winner
Never 2 Young
2023 Adult Winner
Mason Simmons
2023 People’s Choice Winner
2022 Odessa’s Got Talent Winners
Never 2 Young
2022 Youth Winner
Grace Surmion
2022 Adult Winner
Camila Rivera
2022 People’s Choice Winner
2021 OGT Winners
Throwing it back to our very first champs.
Young Bloods
2021 Youth Winner
Los Crazy Guys
2021 Adult Winner
