On Friday, April 29, Gorham High School (GHS) put on their annual talent show, Gorham’s Got Talent. The show was a fundraiser for the junior class and was organized by their class officers.
Due to COVID-19, this is the first time in two years that the talent show has taken place, which was very exciting for everyone involved.
The show was complete with 14 acts, ranging from bands performing together to soloists singing alone to a student performing impressive magic tricks. Junior class Vice President, Klarha Cajuste, and junior Qasim Rabbani were the emcees for the night.
Photo credit: Amanda LandryCorinna Hahn performing “Soar”
The three judges each had an impressive performing background. Jeanette Zagorianakos is a GHS 2012 graduate and has since been part of both The Voice and American Idol. Katie Daley has spent nearly 30 years performing onstage. Todd Daley holds a degree in musical theater and has been actively involved in local theater for over two decades.
With such a wide range of talent displayed, choosing the winners was a difficult choice for the judges. As they debated their decision, the audience had a chance to vote on their favorite act of the night.
The People’s Choice winner was the band Haze, made up of four current GHS seniors. Haze got their start at Gorham’s Got Talent a few years ago, and have since performed several live shows, both locally and in Boston. Haze dazzled the audience with a self-titled song, “Haze,” from their upcoming album.
The contestant who placed third was Maddie Downey, a junior at GHS. This was Downey’s first time performing for Gorham’s Got Talent, and she notes that she will definitely consider doing it again. She sang Adele’s “Someone Like You”.
Downey says that despite taking the stage countless times before, she was still nervous on the day of the show. “Stage fright is a totally real thing,” Downey says, “even if you’ve been on stage hundreds of times before.”
Mavy Ho, a senior, took second place. Ho entranced the entire crowd by performing “Fuego” on the violin. As she danced across the stage, she hit every note perfectly on her instrument.
The winner of the night was a junior, Corinna Hahn, who performed her own original song titled “Soar.” Hahn says she is extremely proud for pushing herself to be vulnerable in front of an audience, and that Gorham’s Got Talent has inspired her to start recording music.
“I wrote ‘Soar’ because I was beginning to realize how many people suppress their true feelings,” Hahn remarks. “If you have something to say, SAY IT! There’s always going to be something bothersome in life, so why not address it and move on so you can soar?”
This year’s Gorham’s Got Talent was a huge success. The winners were all incredibly deserving, and the hard work that everyone put in was amazing. Gorham’s Got Talent will definitely continue on for years to come.