Father-son duo take home first place in Maine's Got Talent

LEWISTON — Sean and Mark McNeil took home the first-place prize of $750 and bragging rights at the 6th annual Maine’s Got Talent competition on Saturday night.

Ten diverse and entertaining local acts performed for a full house at the Dolard and Priscilla Gendron Franco Center. Nearly every seat was filled and all of the proceeds support Sandcastle Clinical and Educational Services and L-A Hearing Services.

Judges Joe Phillipon of Lewiston Police Department, Celeste from WBLM, and former contestant Tom Doucette scored the contestants on musicality, stage presence and skill.

Molly McGill from The Brand Collective was once again the master of ceremonies for the event.

“We’re gonna knock your socks off tonight,” she said. “We’ve got doo wop, hip hop, punk rock and soul. Something for everyone. It’s a real smorgasbord of music.”

First-place winners Sean and Mark McNeil, a father and son duo, played an original instrumental song called “The Journey.”

Sean, who composed the song, said it “has a lot of ups and downs. It’s emotional to me — and hopefully to you.”

Bowdoin College student Hannah Jorgensen took home second place and $500. for her powerful and emotional rendition of “Rise Up” by Andra Day.

Celseste put it simply: “I just love your voice.”

Both of the acts received standing ovations and wall-shaking applause.

Third place and $250 went to Random Ideas, an all-girl punk band made up of triplets from China, Maine.

At the end of the show, an anonymous donor added $100 to each winner’s prize and an extra $100 to Sandcastle.

Winners were chosen by an average of the judges’ scores and audience applause meter.

“When that time comes, go bananas,” McGill said. “Like Kermit the Frog bananas.”

Master of ceremonies Molly McGill, right, interacts with the three judges as they score Jamie Dozois and her HoneyPot bandmates during Maine’s Got Talent in Lewiston on Saturday night.

Master of ceremonies Molly McGill, back right, and Christina Ariola interact with the three judges during Maine’s Got Talent in Lewiston on Saturday night. Judges are, from left, former contestant Tom Doucette, Celeste of WBLM and Lewiston police officer Joe Philippon.