Are you an entertainer who wants to move your talent to the next level?

There's something we can all agree on, Montana's Got Talent! Everyone is invited to showcase their musical talents to qualify as a contestant in the first annual show in Kalispell, Mt on Saturday, October 26th, at the Flathead Valley Community College's Wachholz Center at 7pm.

This is an exciting opportunity for Montanans who wish to showcase their amazing talent at one of the most prestigious venues in Montana. Touring the state will be Founder and CEO Halladay Quist who's searching for talented performers of all ages, all genres, and all configurations including bands who want to move up in the industry. The best way to apply is to send in your YouTube video audition at MontanasGotTalent.com by August 31st.

"It's a great opportunity to showcase and promote your talent to a statewide audience," said Quist.

Quist certainly has an ear for finding musical gifts and lifting those to the front of the stage. She has lived a lifetime in the music industry growing up with her famous father Rob Quist who was one of the original founding members of the national touring act Mission Mountain Wood Band. At two days old she started on the road with him, on stage at three years old, and professionally touring with her own band by age 18, which led to performing on numerous main stage venues opening for world-renowned artists like Jewel, Colter Wall, Collin Raye, Corb Lund, Dennis Quaid and many more. Music has always been centric to her life and the love of her community.

"I have had the incredible blessing of being brought up in a musical family and I believe music is a gift everyone should share, and really the best way to bring everyone together," said Quist. "It is my pleasure to give others the same chance that I had to fall in love with music and to open the door to many different opportunities in the music industry."

"Montana's Got Talent is an incredible opportunity to shine a spotlight on artists that are ready for the next level," Quist says.

Contestants have a fantastic array of benefits for being a part of the inaugural Montana's Got Talent. Luxury accommodations are included on October 25th and 26th in the Flathead Valley. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize, an opportunity to open for a national touring act at Abayance Bay Bowl in Rexford, MT, two tickets to Under the Big Sky 2025 music festival in Whitefish, MT, and a complimentary recorded song at Beargrass Studio in the Flathead Valley.

Montana's Got Talent has an incredible lineup of judges for the event. Hilary Williams, singer/songwriter and granddaughter to Hank Williams, Dustin Brayley, member of the multi-platinum selling band Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Meredith Patterson, a Broadway star and TV/Film Actress, Rob Quist, one of the first to be inducted into the Montana Music Hall of Fame, Clif Loftin, owner of Clif Loftin Creative, producing events and tours of the world's most famous entertainers and John Dunnigan, a Flathead Valley music legend.

This event wouldn't be possible without support from the community. Montana's Got Talent is proud to include Stockman Bank of Montana as one of their premier supporters for the event. If your business would like to be included, please reach out by visiting MontanasGotTalent.com.

Come cheer on the next generation of musicians and join this joyous community. Tickets are on sale now at wachholzcollegecenter.com. For questions or more information, visit MontanasGotTalent.com.

Starlight Academy is Born

Quist has always had a passion for sharing her musical joy through education. She has taught artist development at the University of Montana, enjoyed teaching music and producing shows with youth at many elementary schools, and led dozens of songwriting workshops. Pursuing this passion has led her to begin a new venture, Starlight Academy, an online learning center for music and performing arts being launched at the end of this year. Educators are a combination of licensed teachers and professional musicians, such as Rob Quist, Dustin Brayley from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and actress and broadway star Meredith Patterson.

A fantastic addition to public schools, homeschools or hobby students of all ages, different aspects of the entertainment industry will be offered at the learning center. This includes intros to music theory, business, guitar, piano, voice, dance, banjo, ukulele, bass and drums to start. Check out the website at starlightacademy.org and see how the courses can change your life and help you reach new levels of your musical genius. Montana's Got Talent is an event to raise money for Starlight Academy. It is Quist's mission to give a music scholarship to at least one student for every school in Montana, especially the schools that don't have music teachers.