Convent of the Sacred Heart students and faculty took the stage to showcase their talents at the annual charity event, Talent for Tots, Friday, April 24. The school community gathered together for an evening full of special presentations, including an award from Cablevision, surprise faculty videos, and a couple of guest performers.
This year’s event especially highlighted the musical strengths of the Sacred Heart community. Of the night’s 17 acts, 14 were performances of a song or an orchestral composition.
“Last year we had more sport teams and group acts. This year we had more individuals doing acts and also much more teacher participation,” senior Abbi Wilson, head of the Community Service Club, said. “It was a lot of work putting together Talent for Tots, but in the end it was very rewarding.”
The Community Service Club, which organizes the fundraiser, will send all of the proceeds from the event through the Religious Society of the Sacred Heart to schools in Uganda and Kenya. Because admission to the event was free, the Community Service Club raised funds through its bake sale, pizza dinner, and raffle baskets.
Cablevision’s program, Charity Champions, which honors schools that have raised funds for charities of their choice, recognized Sacred Heart’s commitment to serving others and presented an award along with $1500 before performances began. The money received from this award will also go towards funding the education of students in Uganda and Kenya.
Senior emcees Miranda Falk and Mary O’Sullivan introduced the first act, which came straight from Broadway’s A Little Night Music. Upper School English and Journalism teacher, Ms. Matilde Larson, kicked off the night with a soulful performance of “Send in the Clowns.”
A surprise video followed, displaying the many attempts, but few successes, of faculty and students trying to spin a basketball on their fingers. Some notable triumphs included those of Upper School Math teacher, Mr. Joel Padilla, and junior Julenne Jaramillo.
Junior Alessandra Nocco and senior Jessica Johnson stole the spotlight to perform “Fly Before You Fall” by Cynthia Erivo. The slow-paced song set the bar high for the succeeding acts. Both performers received loud applause from the audience.
“I thought the performance by Alessandra and Jessica was one of the best of the night,” senior Gaby Lopez said. “It was a really good song so it was cool being able to hear my classmates perform it.”
The Upper School Chorus did not disappoint with their performance of an a cappella version of Phillip Phillips’ “Home.”
The musical performances included more than just singing. Instead of using their voices, Upper School Math teacher Mr. Robert Cushman and his wife, Mrs. Kathryn Cushman, used a euphonium and a piano to perform the song “Every Time I Feel the Spirit.”
After sophomore Delia Hughes’ passionate solo of Sara Bareilles’ “Brave” on her guitar, the night’s next two acts featured special guests.
Senior Gabby Giacomo and Pleasantville High School senior Jacob Levine, sang a playful duet of “I’d Do Anything,” from Oliver!. Afterwards, senior ZsaZsa Morel invited her brother, Brandon “The Symbol” Morel, to perform their original song, “Golden.” ZsaZsa and Brandon encouraged audience participation, and had the audience rapping along during their performance.
“I was nervous at first because I wasn’t sure how the audience would respond or whether they would actually participate, but the audience was great,” ZsaZsa said. “Having written the song with my brother, I think I was able to connect to the meaning of the song more than I would have if I had performed a song written by someone else.”
Shifting from rap to classical music, orchestra conductor, Mr. Christopher Bush, performed three duets on his clarinet, one with senior flutist Caitlan Fealing, another with sixth grade cellist Colette Wicks, and a third with pianist, Ms. Carol Minor.
Following a brief ten-minute intermission, the audience viewed yet another surprise video that exhibited the secret talents of the faculty. The skills ranged from prolonged handstands and detailed face painting to rock climbing and cake decorating.
The next performers were senior Emily Hirshorn, singing and playing Laura Story’s “Blessings” on the piano, and junior Tess Driscoll, along with Gabby and Miranda, presenting a 39-second preview of the student-run play, 39 Steps, set to premiere in May.
After the Madrigals covered Lorde’s “Team,” seniors Emily Casper and Catie Capolongo continued the musical streak and reprised their highly-anticipated cover of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.”
Junior Eva Carrasquero closed the hour-and-a-half-long event with a powerful rendition of Christina Perri’s “The Lonely.”
This year’s Talent for Tots is sure to be remembered, if not for the musical gifts of the Sacred Heart community, then perhaps for the luck of the faculty, which took home six of the eight raffle baskets.
This year, with the help of the Sacred Heart community, the Community Service Club raised a total of $877.30.
– Molly Geisinger, Co-Features Editor