Senior Tony Neal sings “I Believe I Can Fly” by R Kelley during the South Elgin High School talent show Jan. 24. Neal finished in first place and will represent his school at the U-46 TalentFest March 19 at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Elgin Area School District U-46's talented high schoolers will showcase their skills at the 14th annual TalentFest at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, on the Hemmens Auditorium Main Stage, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
The contest features nine acts made up of two finalists chosen from each of the five district high schools: Bartlett — which is sending only one finalist this year — Streamwood, South Elgin, Elgin and Larkin. After these nine acts perform, the audience will vote for their favorites.
The top five acts advance to the second phase of the night where they will perform again. A panel of judges will select the first-, second- and third-place winners.
In addition, the school whose two acts receive the most total audience votes during intermission will be awarded the traveling TalentFest Trophy. Last year's winner of that trophy was Elgin High School.
“Each year, TalentFest provides an opportunity for the creativity of our high schoolers to be showcased on a professional stage in front of family, friends, peers, and community members,” said TalentFest coordinator Jeff Grosser.
“It's always a fun night for the audience because they can be a part of determining the winners as well as appreciating the talents of our U-46 high school students.”
This year's celebrity judges are Kevin Kearney, chairman of the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission; Benjamin Bernal, representing the U-46 Educational Foundation; and Jaimie Giraldo, coordinator of Fine Arts in U-46. The emcee is Kelly Bolton, winner of the Audience Favorite Award at the 2024 Elgin Fringe Festival.
Tickets for TalentFest 2025 are $5 and can be purchased online at Hemmens.org, by phone at (847) 931-5900, or at the door. TalentFest is made possible with the support of the U-46 Educational Foundation, the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, and the Palmer Foundation.
Freshman Michelle O’Hearn sings “World Burn” from “Mean Girls the Musical” during the South Elgin High School talent show Jan. 24. O’Hearn finished in second place and will represent her school at the U-46 TalentFest March 19 at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Ania Mucha dances to “Headlock” during the Streamwood High School talent show Jan. 30. Mucha finished in second place in the competition and qualifies for the districtwide TalentFest March 19 at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Sarah Ballenger sings “Slipping Through My Fingers” by ABBA during the Streamwood High School talent show Jan. 30. Ballenger finished in first place and qualifies for the districtwide TalentFest.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Senior Sebastian Siwiec performs “Revolutionary Etude” by Chopin on the piano during the Elgin High School Talent Show Feb. 5. Siwiec finished in second place and qualified to perform at the districtwide TalentFest March 19 at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
The group BFH, comprising, from left, freshman Maya Hernandez, freshman Marcos Hernandez and junior Luz Zambrano Hernandez, performs a traditional Mexican dance from the state of Nayarit to the songs “Los Bueyes,” “Managua” and “El Jarabe Nayarita” during the Elgin High School Talent Show Feb. 5. The group finished in first place and qualified to perform at the districtwide TalentFest March 19 at the Hemmens Auditorium in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
From left, juniors Lucas Guerra on guitar, Ryan Sliwa on drums, and Andrew Llamas on bass guitar perform original songs at the Bartlett High School Talent Show Feb. 20. The band finished in second place in the competition and qualified for the districtwide TalentFest competition at the Hemmens on March 19 in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Larkin senior Rafael Valdes, junior Sergio Romo, and sophomore Julian Garcia perform a Folklorico dance from the state of Veracruz at the Larkin High School TalentFest auditions Feb. 19 in the auditorium at Larkin High School in Elgin. The trio finished in second place and qualified for the districtwide TalentFest competition at the Hemmens on March 19.
Photo by John Konstantaras
Larkin senior Anthony Merlo, junior Mia Satterfield, senior Addison Kuttnauer, sophomore Elizabeth Bellock, sophomore Cayle Johnson, sophomore London Fitch and sophomore Emily O'Hearn perform a dance choreographed by Anthony Merlo to “Proud Mary” at the Larkin High School TalentFest auditions held Feb. 19 in Elgin. The dance group finished in first place in the competition and qualified for the districtwide TalentFest competition to be held March 19 at the Hemmens in Elgin.
Photo by John Konstantaras