Hoban students have an abundant talent that is rarely seen daily. On Friday, March 8, 2024, Hoban’s Got Talent took place in Barry Gymnasium with five acts creating an unforgettable show to showcase what Hoban has to offer. Hoban’s Got Talent has been an immense success over the past decade. However, the Student Council has experienced a decreasing number of students willing to sign up and perform ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the lack of popularity, these five students did not hesitate to put their best foot forward.

The first act was performed by freshman Janaiya Thomas, who sang an unforgettable cover of “Love” by Keyshia Cole. Her voice matched perfectly with that of the song and truly blew the audience away. The observing students did not hesitate to support Thomas as everybody got out their phones, swayed their flashlights, and sang along. 

Following the performance by Thomas was sophomore Sebastian Blaser, who had an incredible piano solo. Anticipation grew while he set up, as nobody knew what to expect. However, once he started playing, he flowed incredibly well and made little to no mistakes. It was honestly shocking to see a classmate be able to perform at such a high level.

Senior Alyssa Garfinkle interrupted the musical acts of the show with her original poem, “Clarity.” When expecting a poem to be read out loud, it can be a hit or miss as to whether or not a teenage audience will accept it. The poem aimed to exemplify some of life’s most difficult questions, which immediately grasped the audience’s attention. “I was actually really surprised,” Garfinkle stated. “I was nervous as to how everyone would react, but they seemed to enjoy my poem, which only made me more confident in myself.”

Freshman Sophia Stapleton also performed an original piece, a song titled “Dream.” Accompanied by her acoustic guitar, Stapleton was able to captivate the audience’s attention with her beautiful voice and lyrics. In contrast to Thomas’s performance, where everyone knew the words, students could listen to the attention-grabbing lyrics of Stapleton’s song with the feeling of hope she aimed to convey.

The final act of the show was performed by seniors Rylee Zaucha and Natalie Morton with their musical number of “Man or Muppet” from Walt Disney Pictures 2011 film The Muppets. This dramatic number set the stage on fire, as their harmonizing vocals brought the entire performance to life. Before their routine, Zaucha and Morton did not seem to sweat the pressure of the spotlight. “We have been singing this song in karaoke forever, so there was not much preparation needed,” Zaucha stated. “We just want to go out there and have fun because that’s what the talent show is all about,” added Morton. 

While Hoban’s Got Talent was deemed a success this year, the Student Council hopes for a bigger sign-up list for the following shows. More participants will not only make the talent show a bigger event but also exemplify more of the talents that Hoban students can bring!