Talent reigns at Liberty show

Sixteen acts — 14 individual and two duets — performed for Liberty Middle School’s Talent Show. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – ‘Liberty’s got talent!’ Sixteen acts with 18 performers sang, played electric guitar, piano and violin — even danced on a hoverboard — at the Talent Show at Liberty Middle School.

Liberty Student Council sponsored the event. “They advertised for the show in January, auditioned acts in February and organized every detail, performing arts teacher Courtney Hooper said.

Student Council members are Jude Lugo, Sneha Subramani, Molly Blair, Olivia Blanton, who were emcees; and Calvin Engstrom, Danielle Gholston, Claire Congo, Laura Brady and Alaina Burnham, as behind-the-scene workers.

“Truly a student-led event,” Hooper said.

For his dance, Christian Nesselrotte chose hip-hop with “Where They From” by Missy Elliott. Nesselrotte couldn’t attend the show so Hooper recorded his high-energy performance and projected it on a screen for the audience.

Jaiden Bryant danced on a hoverboard to “Melody of Dance Songs” by hip-hop artists. “It was very cool,” Hooper said.

For the instrumentalists, guitarist Eli Stewart performed “Orion” by Metallica. Violinist Jennifer Zheng played “Violin Concerto No. 1” by Bach. Both pianists, Hannah Good chose “Think of Me” by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Laura Brady presented “Stars” from “Les Miserables.”

Three vocalists sang a cappella: Mahala Speigner, “The Hanging Tree,” Jennifer Lawrence; Sarah Cooley, “Safe and Sound,” Taylor Swift; and Wisdom Gwynn, “Listen,” Beyonce.

Other singers included Victor Hagan, “One Call Away,” Charlie Puth; Emily Mefford, “Catch and Release,” Matt Simons; Di’Asia Frazier, “All of Me,” John Legend; Shy-Ann Davis, “Talking to the Moon,” Bruno Mars; Maddie and Zoe, “Over and Over Again,” Nathan Sykes; and Sophia Malone, “Pretty Hurts,” Beyonce.

Teachers Marla Jenkins and Nicholas Looney “sang ‘Like I’m Gonna Lose You’ by Meghan Trainor and John Legend. This was awesome. The kids went wild,” Hooper said.

Acts were not judged. “This was a ‘showcase,’ not a competition. It would have been impossible to pick a winner,” Hooper said.

All students “were all so talented and so very unique. The audience was positive and encouraging. They clapped and sang along, cheered on their peers and gave a standing ovation at the end,” Hooper said.

Liberty Student Council will donate event proceeds to the school.