Nick Gaines performs Adele's, “Set Fire to the Rain” March 9 during the Talent Show 2012 at Bartlett High School. Gaines will next compete against fellow School District U-46 students in the second annual TalentFest Tuesday at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Will Elgin High School retain the title of the most talented high school in Elgin Area School District U-46? Or will one of the four other high schools steal the trophy away?
Finalists in the 2nd Annual U-46 TalentFest will compete for the title at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. The top two teams each from talent shows at Bartlett, Elgin, Larkin, South Elgin and Streamwood will compete for cash prizes and a traveling trophy.
Tickets are $5 and available at hemmens.org, the center box office, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin, and by phone, (847) 931-5900.
A panel of judges and audience votes will determine the winner. The 10 acts, ranging from theater performances to break dancers will be whittled down to five acts after the first round of voting by the audience. The panel of judges will then determine the overall winner. The school with the most votes for the two teams takes the prize.
“The TalentFest was a way of getting programming at the Hemmens without a lot of cost,” said Jeff Grosser, chairman of the TalentFest and member of the Hemmens Advisory Board. “These are the most gifted performers from each school and there will be a lot of tough competition.”
Last year, Elgin High School's Home Made Music and the dance group, 0ne2Oh, received the most votes. The show has attracted a variety of talents in the past, such as a yo-yo performer and student's acting out a scene from a popular Broadway musical, Grosser said.
This year's participants include Streamwood High's Joseph Splinter, aka Big White, a rapper and the dance group, High Impact; Max Gensler and Cyrus French, a guitar and piano duo and a musical skit from Larkin High; Nick Gaines, a vocal/guitarist and comedian Tommy McCarty, from Bartlett High; and South Elgin's South Asian Student Association, performing an Indian/Pakistani dance and blues guitarist Josh Mueda.
Grosser said every vote counts and encouraged people to support the performers from their school.
Max Gensler, guitar, and Cyrus French perform an original piece titled Distract Me Feb. 9 at the 2012 Talent Showcase at Larkin High School in Elgin. French and Gensler earned a spot to compete against School District U-46 winners at the second annual TalentFest Tuesday at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Percussion group, Homemade Music, featuring from left, senior Kilbert Rivera and junior Jonathan Gonzalez perform at the Elgin High School Talent Show Feb. 2. Gonzalez and Rivera won first place to earn a spot to compete against other School District U-46 winners at the second annual TalentFest Tuesday at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
The South Asian Student Association performs an Indian Pakistani dance during a rehearsal March 8 for the 2012 Talent Show at South Elgin High School. The group advanced to the second annual TalentFest Tuesday at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Tommy McCarty performs a stand-up comedy routine March 9 at the Talent Show 2012 at Bartlett High School. McCarty earned a spot to compete against fellow School District U-46 winners at the second annual TalentFest Tuesday at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Aleta Soron, Juan Barbosa, Brittany Neloms and Pricilla Torres perform a skit to Cee Lo Greens Forget You during the 2012 Talent Showcase at Larkin High School Feb. 9. The group earned a spot to compete against other School District U-46 winners at the second annual TalentFest Tuesday at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Josh Mueda plays the blues March 8 during a rehearsal for the 2012 Talent Show at South Elgin High School. Mueda earned a spot in the districtwide TalentFest Tuesday at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Dance group High Impact performs Feb. 23 during the 2012 Multi-Cultural Club Talent Show at Streamwood High School. The group earned a spot to compete against fellow School District U-46 winners at the second annual TalentFest Tuesday at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Rapper Big White, aka Joseph Splinter, performs Feb. 23 during the Streamwood High School Talent Show. Big White rapped his way to a spot to compete against all School District U-46 winners at the second annual TalentFest Tuesday at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
The One2Oh Dance Crew featuring, from left, Brian Gonzalez, Christian Sosa, Ethan Magsombol, Jembone Champa, and Gerardo Gutierrez perform during the Elgin High School Talent Show Feb. 2. The dance crew took second place and qualified for TalentFest Tuesday at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras