GJHS Holds Annual Teacher-Student Talent Show
On Thursday, January 23, GJHS held its annual Teacher-Student Talent Contest in the auditorium so that students and teachers could showcase their creative pursuits. The talent show was hosted by Mr. Mayys, a teacher here at GJHS, and Milee Hasting, one of Winter Park’s Teen pageant winners. Gabe Borque won 1st place for the second time in two years after his moving piano rendition of “Die With A Smile” by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. The second-place winner was Luis Ozuna Cordero, who performed an original Latin rap song.
Gabe Borque, winner
It is clear why Borque won 1st place, as he perhaps did the best job engaging his audience. By choosing a recognizable song, he encouraged the audience to sing along as they held up their flashlights and waved their phones. This connection between Borque and the audience is what helped settle his stage fright and what he enjoyed most about the show. “The performance as a whole is not just about playing the song,” he explained, “but how you’re able to make other people feel too.”
This year, nearly all performances showcased musical talent. Isabel Lidsky kicked off the competition portion of the night with a theatrical solo. To accompany her singing, she had choreographed a dance that livened the performance. Sarvente Chicas followed as the next musical competitor. Her solo was deep and alluring. She swayed as she sang and was swept up in her song. The final musical competitor of the night was Ricardo Valdes & Company, a rock band consisting of two guitarists and a drummer. They performed several covers of well-known rock songs including Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and Nirvana’s “Come as You Are”. The trio had perhaps the most high-quality sound of the night. They were almost as musically proficient as Ozzy Osbourne and Nirvana themselves.
The only non-musical performance this year was a comedy act performed by Jazz Speakman. As a senior, it was her fourth year in talent contest, which culminated her confidence on stage. “It’s about the experience,” she explained, “This is a group of people I can tell really dumb jokes to, and I don’t care if they laugh or not.” But even though Speakman didn’t care about the response she received, the audience loved her jokes. Speakman was the first student to ever perform comedy in the annual talent show. Though she cannot be replaced, the comedy tradition should continue even after she leaves.
The Talent Show also featured the talented performances of some non-competitors. Natalie Sierra was one of those who was not considered for ranking, as she did not officially sign up but asked to perform the night of the event. Another was Mrs. Bright, who was included in the show as a Special Performance. Despite how they were not competitors, both of their performances were chilling. Sierra sang an R&B song and showcased her range of soulful and strong vocals. Mrs. Bright sang a rendition of “Respect” that Aretha Franklin herself would applaud, with a vocal range that had everyone’s jaws on the floor.
Altogether, the Talent Show offered a fun and entertaining night. It was made possible through the hard work of the sponsoring Junior Class, who put the event together. However, the participation of all volunteers, sponsors, and performers allowed the show to reach its full potential. “I am always grateful for the attendance of the talent contest and the participants,” Mr. Mayys said.
GJHS’s annual talent contest has fortunately seen growth in participation. Just three years ago, only 4 students competed in the talent contest; this year, a total of 6 students competed, though 8 students initially planned to compete. Hopefully in the future, more students will step up, willing to showcase their skills. GJHS is honored to have such talent among its students.