Full House for SKC’s Got Talent
A packed hall, an atmosphere charged with anticipation, and applause that met every act made SKC’s Got Talent a true crowd-fuelled highlight of Arts Week. The annual show gives students the freedom to bring fresh performances to the stage without the constraints of rubrics or scripts. Supporters filled the hall at lunchtime to see the finalists who had already earned their place through a highly competitive audition process.
The variety on show was impressive, covering music, dance, theatre, and comedy. Each act had its own style, offering a taste of emotional ballads to hilarious stand-up. Judges Amanda Burnett, an accomplished actor, singer, and Head of Drama and Dance at Macleans College; Sam Ashton, a Saint Kentigern alumnus, musician, and BFM DJ; and Principal Damon Emtage used their combined knowledge to select winners from a range that showed originality and polish.
First place went to Year 12 student Josiah Paletaoga, whose soulful rendition of ‘Nutshell’ by Alice in Chains silenced the crowd before drawing thunderous applause. Second place was awarded to the trio of Milana Dean, Alina Wu, and Daphne Laker, whose self-choreographed piece to Florence + the Machine’s ‘Never Let Me Go’ impressed with its power and grace. Third place was awarded to the lively group from 7KJR (Iyra Chaudhary, Tsz Ching Kwok, Siqi Ren, Brea Riddell, and Peiwen Song) whose original sketch, Detective Pickle and the Case of the Missing Sandwich, hooked the audience with inventive humour and a classic whodunit storyline.
Other finalists who impressed on the day included Oliver Bennett, Henry Cannon, Ruby Mapson, Norah Stubbs, Khiem Tran, and Abby Walmsley, each contributing to the breadth of talent celebrated on stage.
This year’s SKC’s Got Talent stood out not just for the size of the crowd, but for the diversity of performances. Gone are the days when the finals were dominated by solo singers; in their place, a broader mix of acts that demonstrated the full spectrum of creativity thriving at the College.
