Halladay Quist launches talent show, training academy

Halladay Quist, daughter of Montana Hall of Fame entertainer Rob Quist, and founder and CEO of Montana’s Got Talent, will be showcasing 15 of the best regional entertainers at the Wachholz College Center in Kalispell, on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m.  

Participating artists were selected from over 80 video auditions from around the state. Tickets are available online at www.WCCMT.org by calling (406) 756-1400. 

Fans will have a chance to vote online for their favorite artist for the coveted People’s Choice Award.  

All proceeds will go towards Starlight Academy, a developing online platform dedicated to all aspects of professional training for serious artists, including audition tips, promo, musical training by professionals and performance critiques. It will, eventually, provide online music classes for rural schools in Montana.  

Halladay Quist, the founder of Starlight Academy, has been a music teacher in rural schools and is developing a musical curriculum for all small schools in Montana. 

Quist, voted this year’s Best of the Flathead for her music, grew up in Creston. 

“I grew up believing in the power and magic of music because I saw music change people’s lives,” she said. “Music and dance connect us in ways that nothing else does. I look forward to the opportunity to take music and music education to new levels with a professional platform to make music education and promotion universal.” 

Judges for the event feature many luminaries in the music industry, including Hilary Williams, singer/songwriter and granddaughter of Hank Williams; Dustin Brayley, a member of the multi-platinum Trans-Siberian Orchestra; Rob Quist, one of the first inductees into the University of Montana School of Music Hall of Honors; Meredith Patterson, musical theater performer; Clif Loftin, PACE Entertainment producer and Flathead Valley music legend, John Dunnigan.