On December 19th 2007, the Performing Arts department hosted its 4th annual Talent Contest. The standards have certainly improved year on year, both from the artists themselves, but also the students who provided all of the backstage technical support.

This event started life as a means for the music department to source talent, and over the years it has become a showcase event, for a number of students both past and present. This year however, the stakes were even higher, as a member of the Year 11 performing Arts course was given the responsibility of producing and directing the show from start to finish. He auditioned every hopeful student, enlisted other performing arts students to support the event, whittled a long list of competitors down to a manageable size, rehearsed with the finalists and produced the final show. In addition students were also responsible for front of house, backstage management, lighting and sound.

This years finalists ranged from year 7 to year 11, with soloists, duets, dancers and even a band. The judges did not have an easy job (glad it wasn’t me!!), but they arrived at decisions, which the audience certainly seemed to agree with. In 3rd place, James Chappell singing ‘Stand By Me’, in 2nd place, David Willis and Laura-Beth Holliday with a duet from the recent school production, ‘Suddenly Seymour’ and the overall winner of the 2007 Talent Show was Bradley Hemmings, singing ‘She’s Out Of My Life’, which blew the audience away.

Roll on next year!