Second Annual Talent Competition Highlights the Gifts and Creativity of Older New Yorkers; Event Helps Combat Ageism by Showing Older Adults Still Have Much to Contribute to Society
Our Bureau
New York, NY
The NYC Department for the Aging, alongside Mayor Eric Adams, hosted the Talent is Timeless 2024 Grand Finale at the historic United Palace Theater in Washington Heights. Twenty-two acts performed music, comedy, and dance routines entertaining more than 1,000 attendees.
This year marked the second Talent is Timeless competition. New Yorkers aged 60 years and older competed in the first round at older adult centers around the city, with over 1,000 acts participating. Two more rounds followed before the grand finale. Talent is Timeless showcases the spirit, resilience, and limitless potential of older adults, offering them a platform to demonstrate their abilities, while also challenging ageist stereotypes.
“New York City has always been a place that has attracted the most talented people in the world, and today, older New Yorkers have once again shown they are a vital part of our talent pool,” said Mayor Adams. “Getting to see Talent is Timeless bring together older residents and allowing them to perform at a level many of them may never have imagined was truly inspiring and shows that talent does not run out with time – it only gets better. I want to congratulate the finalists and everyone who participated in this year’s competition.”
“The Talent is Timeless series is a beautiful, heartwarming, and remarkable demonstration of what makes New York City’s older adults so wonderful. More than 20 acts in the finale performed comedy, music, or dance routines and showed that skill, stage presence, and engagement with their craft are truly ageless” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Thank you to NYC Aging for leading this initiative into what is now an annual event attended by hundreds of New Yorkers of all ages and thank you to all the competitors in the series for sharing their gifts with all of us.”
“NYC is a great place to age as it creates opportunities for older New Yorkers to share their creative gifts on a grand scale,” said Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “The acts we saw today prove that talent is, in fact, ageless.”
Returning to again serve as the event’s emcee was comedian Jackie Hoffman. This year’s guest judges were acclaimed dancer Lillian Colon, comedian D’yan Forest, director Guy Stroman, actress and singer Lillias White, and actor, director and performance coach Kristine Zbornik.
The winners of this year’s competition are:
- Rosemarie Hameed, singing “Inseperable” from Henry Street Settlement Older Adult Center
- David Husney, Dancing to “Power” from Food Bank Older Adult Center
- Joshua Popenoe, Singing & Guitar, original song “Josh’s Signature Song” from Greenwich House Center on the Square Older Adult Center
“This celebration is an intergenerational bridge, reflecting our mission to foster vibrant, healthy communities across all stages of life,” said Marcos Crespo, Senior Vice President, Community Affairs, Montefiore Einstein. “At Montefiore Einstein, we are deeply committed to enhancing the quality of life for older adults through innovative research and comprehensive programs that support healthy aging, and we are proud to support initiatives like this that celebrate the limitless potential of every generation.”
“Ponce Bank is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and unlocking opportunities for every member of our community to flourish, including the often-overlooked seniors of New York City,” said Madeline Marquez, Executive Vice President, Chief External Affairs Officer at Ponce Bank. “The ‘Talent is Timeless’ Competition, presented by the NYC Department for the Aging, is a celebration of the creativity and influence of older adults. This competition serves as a powerful testament to the fact that age is no barrier to artistic expression and cultural impact. Ponce takes great pride in wholeheartedly supporting and spotlighting these remarkable individuals who continue to ignite inspiration in us all!”
