The Kiwanis Club of Glenwood Springs is dedicated to improving the world one child at a time — a mission that is the driving force behind the club’s annual All Valley Talent Show. 

For the past five years, the show has fostered community, encouraged performance excellence and provided monetary support for winning contestants. Although it costs the Kiwanis Club around $10,000 to produce — and is usually a “money-losing” venture — organizers see it as a pivotal part of their goal to uplift the local youth. 

“The mission of Kiwanis is to support the children and youth of our community,” All Valley Talent Show co-chair Bob Littler said. “We see supporting an event like this, that showcases high school students in our local area in the valleys, as being completely in line with that measure.” 

Each year, high school students from Aspen to Parachute and Vail audition for a chance to compete in one of four categories: vocal, instrumental, dance and theatrical performance. 

Winners in each category take home a $1,500 scholarship, which can be used to elevate their performance careers through school, lessons, instruments, camps and more. 

The 2026 All Valley Talent Show, slated for Friday, will feature 11 contestants. Students from Liberty Classical Academy will perform condensed scenes from their recent musical, “Once Upon A Mattress,” after intermission while up to four professional judges, hand-selected by the Kiwanis Club, deliberate. 

“I am always pleasantly surprised by how talented the kids are, because you think of it as a pretty small production, pretty small town, but the level of talent that comes out of these is pretty phenomenal,” talent show co-chair Hunter McCallum said. “It’s really fun to watch.”

To help contestants prepare, the Kiwanis Club connects them with local professionals for mentorship opportunities. 

Organizers say these coaching sessions are designed to help students conquer pre-show jitters while helping them improve their craft far beyond the night of the show.

“That’s kind of a rare thing that you don’t see terribly often, coaching somebody how to do that, because that can often be the most terrifying part of a show: just getting in front of a crowd,” McCallum said. “That’s a big part of the coaching, teaching them how to calm the nerves and actually go and perform under pressure.”

Littler emphasized that it’s the local artistic professionals — both judges and mentors — who are key to making the All Valley Talent show an impactful, memorable experience for contestants. 

What matters most, according to Littler, is “Seeing that it’s a great experience for the kids and give acknowledgement to the performers and to that talent that sometimes doesn’t receive as much as sporting talent,” he said.

Some of that recognition hinges on audience turnout. 

“A crowd can honestly make or break a show. The show always goes on, but it’s a heck of a lot more fun when there’s a room full of people cheering and clapping,” McCallum said. “The more people show up, the more funds we have for scholarships the next year.”