Meet the Contestants YCGT 2025
Elana Hayden (and the Sugar Daddies)
A native New Yorker, Elana recently relocated from the Big Apple to Big Sky Country and now splits her time between New York and Montana. She is thrilled to be performing in fabulous venues with seasoned musicians both as a solo artist and with her band “Elana Hayden & The Sugar Daddies.” Elana is a versatile vocalist who has written, recorded, produced, and licensed numerous songs, jingles and voice overs for TV, film, radio, and video. She has toured with theatrical productions, enjoyed success with her debut album, “Carry You Home”, and her voice and music can be heard on various forms of media across the globe.
Brent Harrison
Before moving to Nashville in the 90's to pursue country music, Brent Harrison was a contestant on the TV show Star Search (the American Idol of the 80's). Brent traveled on the road with the award winning Christian Country group The Fox Brothers in 1994, and after coming off the road, began leading worship part-time and later full-time. Years later, God led him in a direction that currently places him on a ranch in Paradise Valley, leading the worship team at Expedition Church. Brent’s music is currently being played on several Christian Country radio stations across the country.
Star Caron
Star Caron is a proud wife, mom, and aerialist from the Gallatin valley near Bozeman. She began taking aerial classes with Mountain Air Dance, a non-profit dance academy in Bozeman, when she was 17. Star fell in love with the art of aerial dance and the lovely community of dancers it brings together early on. Star Caron is very excited to perform her original piece Ascend on silks. In her free time when she’s not taking care of her family or instructing dance classes in Bozeman, you'll usually find her crocheting, spending time with her pets, or gardening at home.
Group Hug
Braxton Mackenzie, a talented vocalist, and Connor Ault, an instrumentalist, met at a karaoke bar back in 2022. One back porch jam session later, they decided they wanted to team up and start performing together. They’ve been playing shows in and around the Bozeman area ever since, calling themselves “GroupHug.” They are both so excited to take to the stage in Livingston together for the first time, performing Gnarles Barkley’s “Crazy” for voice and guitar.
Garnish and the Sauce
Ian Brown, originally from Washington, began playing tunes at age of 8, starting with the piano, then the saxophone, and the guitar at 17. When not performing, you can find Ian in his motorcycle shop building cool machines. Livingston native Quinlan Conley has been playing music since birth. If he’s not rocking out on stage, he’s making people look good at Quinn’s Barbershop or fixing up classic cars. While Andrea Lachniet loves spending time outdoors hiking, fishing, and skiing, you can often find her at her piano. Starting on the piano at age 5, she loves playing music in the church, with friends, and occasionally at weddings.
Arabian Nights
Hayden Opsahl (12) and Seamus Stewart (12) are both members of the 406Cirque Youth Troupe. Their piece Arabian Nights is an original work. The duo choreographed this act as a way to challenge themselves to combine their passion for tumbling, gymnastics, trapeze, and aerial silks. For the past two years, Hayden has starred in 406Cirque's annual Spooktacular production. In addition to the circus, Hayden loves volleyball and gymnastics. In 2025, Seamus was a soloist in the 406Cirque’s production of A Circus Carol, playing the part of Young Scrooge. He has also performed with Opera Montana and Montana Theatre Works.
Clayton Oberquell
Clayton is a piano accompanist, piano teacher, singer, photographer, and adventurer in Livingston. He is heavily influenced by the beauty of nature and often goes on backpacking trips in the mountains. Clayton loves to photograph unique landscapes in National Parks and other public lands, and lately his favorite spring break destinations have included the amazing canyons of the desert southwest. He has been teaching piano for 20 years, and he has a teaching studio in the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts. He is a published musician and is currently working on Book 2 of the Celebration of Christmas series for Piano.
Nick Epple
Nicholas Epple is a classical guitarist originally from Bozeman, Montana. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Montana State University, graduating cum laude. His studies have taken him across the globe, including working with world-renowned artists such as Christopher Parkening, Denis Azabagić, and a summer spent in Siena, Italy studying under Dario Vannini. Nicholas went on to complete his Master’s degree at the University of Arizona, where he deepend both his technique and artistry. When he’s not playing guitar, Nicholas enjoys hiking Montana’s backcountry and shooting a game of pool with friends.
Revolutions
Dolores Dee (13), Elise O'Reilly(14), Hannah Licata (13), Lexie Gallagher (10), Sadie Rodman (13), and Serenity Hoglund (11) are the powerhouse unicyclists in 406Cirque's Youth Troupe. The ensemble, coached by National Unicycle Champion Rachel Sindelar, created Revolutions as a way to challenge themselves and to learn new skills. These talented young people have performed at multiple MSU HalfTime Shows and as part of 406Cirque's original productions A Circus Carol and Spooktacular. Some members of the youth troupe are also preparing to compete at the 2025 Unicycle Championships this summer.
Meridian
Meridian is a four piece teenage rock band from Livingston Montana that focuses on delivering energetic and entertaining live performances while also bringing new original music to audiences, playing everything from funk to hard rock. Xander Becnel sings lead vocals, Bridger Himmelspach plays bass, Hunter Viers is on guitar, and Finn Johnson rocks out on drums. Meridian plays at (and more often than not hosts) the weekly jam night at the Murray Hotel and Bar, and has worked with Jamey Warren at Sound Color Studios. Meridian can be found on all streaming services, and they have just released their debut EP titled “Outset.”