Annual talent showcase held on gym stage Friday afternoon; 2015 winners are Ethan Sykes, YMCA dance/lip sync squad
LET THE BATTLE (of the Bands) – 2015-version – begin!
The annual talent showcase of Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) students – called Battle of the Bands – was held Friday afternoon, February 20, on the school’s gymnasium stage. The event was open to students in grades four through 12.
A total of 12 acts – plus the appearance of a special guest group – strutted their stuff for the audience, which included lip sync presentations, vocal and instrumental numbers and dance selections.
Mistress of ceremonies was Mia Rodriguez with Tristan Schumacher, master of ceremonies. Sound and lights were courtesy of Jordan Clark and Colton Nelson.
The 2015 contest closed with a first-place tie between Ethan Sykes and his piano and vocal solo, “Terrible Things”, and the dance team of Hailey Weber, Diana Rodriguez, Chris Garza and Mohammad Yusef, moving and lip-syncing to the Village People’s once-upon-a-time hit, “YMCA.”
Following is a photo gallery from the event.
THE OPENING ACT of Butterfield-Odin Public School’s 2015 Battle of the Bands was the quartet of Victoria Navarrate, Lexia Sykes, Paris Morrow and Dylan Keldenich singing Taylor Swift’s hit, “22.”
KALIANA XAYAPHONESONGKHAM shared the song ‘Yume to Hazakura” in its original Japanese. This is a song about the end of spring. The title is translated as “Dreams and Hazakura.” Hazakura refers to the cherry blossom tree’s new leaves after the blossoms have all fallen. Kaliana was appropriately costumed for spring with rabbit ears and pastel pink scarf.
LEXIA SYKES RETURNED to the stage, this time alone, to sing the vocal solo “We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together.”
A SECOND MEMBER of the show’s opening foursome, Victoria Navarrate, also presented a vocal solo in the program, “Set Fire to the Rain.” Last year, as fourth-grader, Victoria was named the competition champ, singing another Adele song, “Rolling in the Deep.”
AN ORIGINAL BUTTERFIELD-Odin Public High School Band, BAAM!, features four young women – the band’s name taken from the first letter of each of the girl’s first names. From left, Aracely Anaya on electric guitar, Brianna Ringen on drum set, Mia Rodriguez as vocalist and Arely Anaya on electric bass guitar. The group shared two number, “My Own Worst Enemy” and “American Idiot.”
A CLOSER LOOK at Aracely Anaya playing her electric guitar.
KEEPING THE BEAT for BAAM! was Brianna Ringen on the drum set.
BAAM! VOCALIST MIA Rodriguez picks up the heat with the lyrics of “American Idiot.”
ANOTHER ANAYA – THE older sister – Arely, provided deep thumping instrumental sounds with her electric bass guitar.
BUTTERFIELD-ODIN PUBLIC High School Social Studies instructor Dennis Stade captured the BAAM! performance on video.
BRINGING THE SPUNK of “YMCA” up to a new level was this group. They were named in a tie for the 2015 championship along with Ethan Sykes and his vocal and piano solo. From left, Diana Rodriguez, Hailey Weber, Mohammad Yusef and Chris Garza.
MOHAMMAD YUSEF BROUGHT down the house with his dance moves.
KRISANA XAYAPHONESONGKHAM presented the vocal solo, “Not a Bad Thing.”
PROVIDING THE ELECTRIC guitar accompaniment for “Not a Bad Thing” was Brianna Ringen.
KRISANA XAYAPHONESONGKHAM, RIGHT, came back onstage to vocalize on “In My Head,” again backed on electric guitar by Brianna Ringen (not pictured). Joining the action were Wong Lee, left, providing the dance lessons and Victoria San Miguel, center, accenting the selection with the sounds of the triangle.
SALUTING “JUST THE Way You Are” in his vocal solo was Jonathan Hanson.
TAYLOR SWIFT’S “BLANK Space” was this trio’s vocal talent presentation. From left, Mahryn Dougherty, McKenna Steinbrink and Mackenzie Christensen.
THE ENERGY LEVEL was high for this trio of, from left, Skyler Odegaard, Kahsen Van Wyk and Derek Fast when they provided the audience with their interpretation of the song, “Rude.”
ETHAN SYKES ACCOMPANIED himself on piano for his vocal solo, Terrible Things.” Ethan was named to a first-place tie in the 2015 contest, sharing the title with the YMCA dance/lip sync quartet.
THIS YEAR’S SPECIAL guest group presented the number, “Wagon Wheel.” From left, music educator and choir director Sarah Cartwright on mandolin and vocals, English teacher Nathan Fast on vocals, student Brianna Ringen on drum set back-up, Butterfield-Odin Public School Superintendent Lisa Shellum on guitar, student Arely Anaya on electric bass guitar back-up and Social and EBD teacher Jeff Whitney playing the washboard,
SARAH CARTWRIGHT, LEFT and Nathan Fast, right, enjoyed their time performing for the schools’ students, staff and others in the audience.
SUPERINTENDENT SHELLUM STRUMMING the strings of her guitar.
SCRITCH-SCRATCH SOUNDS were added to the number by Jeff Whitney on the washboard.
THESE KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS vociferously supported the performers while wearing lit-up neon necklaces.
