March 1, 2026

MUSKOKA’S GOT LOTS OF AMAZING MUSICAL TALENT AS HOLLIE STRONKS TOPS 10 TO WIN COMMUNITY LIVING HUNTSVILLE’S CONTEST

HUNTSVILLE — Muskoka’s got … Hollie Stronks, Noah Ruttan, Mackenzie Lockhart, Jon O’Connor, Ash Montgomery, Adessa MacDonald, Emma McLellan, Derek Pert & David Laidlaw, Mel Gutierrez and Mikayla Lynch.

And so many more singers, dancers, musicians, living room, basement and hidden shower talents.

But these were the top 10 hard-fought finalists who shone in last night Muskoka’s Got Talent final smack-down contest at the Algonquin Theatre.

They were the winnowed down local artists who emerged with audio auditions from the back country to the Main Street stage — most admitting this was their first shot before a full house crowd of 400 who came out to support Community Living Huntsville and provide awareness for its desperate need for sustainable housing while raising $25,000 for the organization.

Hollie Stronks, centre, won last night’s Muskoka’s Got Talent contest in Huntsville, topping eight others including Noah Ruttan, left, who judges picked second and Mackenzie Lockhart who was third. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

From showdown to “hoe down,” it was a variety show worthy of Ed Sullivan.

But in the end it was Stronks who wanted the five judges — and the audience who also voted — to “Make You Feel My Love.”

And they did awarding her the $1,500 first prize award.

Judges Neil Barlow and Sue Kirwin-Campbell gushed about her “velvet voice” and “audio hug,” he said. And sound that reminded her of “red wine,” Kirwin-Campbell repeated.

It was close a close race throughout.

**Derek Ruttan was a “true gentleman'” and inspiration to the judges.**

Ruttan, who emcee Tom Young said “you belong here” and “he’s from Bracebridge — and you can’t get more country than that,” joined Stronks as the runner-up and $1,000 recipient.

A member of the Baysville/Bracebridge Ruttan country royalty — “fiddles, guitars, bagpipes” — the deeply humble Ruttan didn’t look nervous, but admitted “I was freaking out since 3 a.m. last night.”

“Dusty Denim,” his first and original of two songs he performed, including a second number in the final three set, he dedicated it to the “men in my family who inspired me.”

Judge Andre Wahl called Ruttan a “true gentleman” and said “in a world where bling and material items are at the forefront of so many teenagers … you chose as a young man to talk about the things that are really important. And we miss that. No matter what happens here tonight, you are going to have fans all over the world. And the community is better with you in it.”

Geordie Sabbagh, a fourth judge, said “Dusty Denim” “had authenticity. It felt like you were singing about someone in your own family.”

And he was with several of them cheering him on like his grandparents Phil and Lynn who were hearing him sing on stage for the first time.

“… Well that old, old man, never liked much of anything that is fancy. Well that old, old man taught me more to life than anyone that has lasted. … Well for that old, old man that I immortalize, Dusty denim is about good as it gets.”

Ruttan leaves Monday for a drive and two-week visit with uncle Derek Ruttan, a singer in Nashville, “for a little bit of what I’d call a camp.”

Lockhart’s smoky version of Olivia Dean’s “Let Alone the One You Love” also received the judges raves as they revelled in her sultry, intimate and moody take about “Being done with this feeling…. Like a breeze in the evening.”

She claimed her hands were “clammy” waiting to sing.

But Barlow was “blown away” by the “phrasing and confidence” of the dark horse who finished third taking home $500.

**Hollie Stronks’ “velvet voice” had judges feeling her love.**

Surprisingly out of the running was 10-year-old MacDonald, who Young introduced as a “spitfire.”

A charming child chanteuse and natural performer whose polished stage presence was that of seasoned artist twice her age. She engaged the audience like none others as she lured and coaxed them to participate, sing along and reply to her fun lyrical “hoe down.”

Hers is a compelling personal story about love, the loss of her mother Kirsten just over a year ago and incredible talent backed up by her father, Dave, on guitar.

“I didn’t think this was going to turn in to a hoe down,” said fellow MC Tyler Mathieson.

“Fantastic,” said Barlow. “You owned the stage. Your timing and rhythm are tremendous.”

Hear the “Daddy-Daughter” duo on her YouTube channel.

250 fans in the audience, many family members and supporters, got to cast this vote on their cellphones using a QR code.

The night began on a high note from last year’s winner opera singer Paige Meunier and quickly got down to the basics of rock with guitarist Jon O’Connor’s Canadian classic rendition of the Guess Who’s “No Sugar Tonight ” that had judge Wahl quickly extolling him to “get a band — you belong in a band.”

“Anyone out there in a band, call him,” encourage Mathieson.

McLellan took over the entire stage with a breathtaking and admiring Cirq du Soleil-esque dance and acrobatic routine with litheness, which could only be best respected by dancer and judge Kirwin-Campbell who praised her gymnastic and ballet-like contortions and leg extensions — and dark new leggings this year.

Wahl was happy Pert & Laidlaw brought forgotten, but always entertaining southern bluegrass back to Huntsville with call and response reminiscent of AM radio days and country fair barn dances while sharing one mic — that could have been two.

Barlow loved their integrated harmonies.

Wahl dubbed them “infectious. Thanks for bringing them north.”

**Guest performers Kyung-A Lee and husband Parres Allen were highlights of the show.**

Montgomery continued the Canada theme on piano — and backup electric fiddle — with her haunting, but beautifully bright young voice on a lovely Alana Morrisette number.

Which also caught the ears of the kind, welcoming judges.

And “you can never have too much Freddie Mercury,” intoned Mathieson.

To which third-time show entrant Gutierrez, 40, replied with a great Queen classic “Too Much Love Will Kill You.”

The Filipino singer — and sewer, he designs his own sequin suits — was again in the top 10 this year with his “infectious” voice and personality, said Wahl.

“I’m the inspiration in my life,” Gutierrez said while thanking everyone for coming out and supporting Community Living Huntsville.

“Wildcard” Lynch, the final fine guitarist of the first set, was admired as much for her “adorable” and magical countenance as her singing.

Fan favourite, Hunter’s Bay Radio host and community living member Zack Fitzsimmons reprised his oft previously performed, self-composed song “Labels,” about living with a disability and a word that’s only a “disguise.”

With the help of a QR code on screen 250 audience members added their votes to those of the judges who narrowed the 10 to the final three finalists.

**The spotlight was on all the stars last night all of whom deserved to be on the stage.**

Ashley Vowels, co-owner of the Tall Trees Restaurant, in Huntsville, along with her husband big Community Living supporters, shared a funny tale about their six-year-old son Axel who is on the spectrum.

Everyone laughed and teared up when she recounted last year how she told the audience about his first three words — “I love you.”

“Well, this year his grandmother told her he said three new ones: ‘What the fuck.’

To which Ashley first and quickly asked — “Was it in context?”

And yes they were, she, too, laughed.

Such was a night of fun, variety, great music and community living in Huntsville and Muskoka.

Contact Muskoka’s Got Talent if you’d like to send in an audition tape and get to go through a little mentoring for the final show and help another good cause.

And share some of your great musical talents.