Teens take to stage in 2nd annual MLHS Student Talent Show
Mountain Lake Public High School’s (MLHS) Haydn-to-Hip Hop Class (Deaunna Carter-Finne, Hayden Fast, Byron Franz, Ben Grev, Brianna Jensen, Lydia Hildebrandt, Louis Loungthilath, Austin Rogers, Eric Wenner and Jenny Wright), taught by Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) music teacher and high school choir director Andrea Brinkman, sponsored the 2nd Annual MLHS Student Talent Show on Friday, March 27 in the school auditorium – the first show to be open to the public.
And teens responded, bringing an eclectic array of talents to the stage in performance. The talent show was the climax of the celebration of Music In Our Schools Month during March – 31 days of music-centric activities spearheaded by the Haydn-to-Hip Hop Class.
Presentations ran the gamut from vocal solos to vocal duets to comedy acts to instrumental numbers – and many exploits in between. A total of 11 acts participated. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three performances – $75 for first-place act, $50 for second-place and $25 for third-place. Community judges we be Mitchell Schroeder, Nick Naxay and Kris Langland.
Earning top honors was senior Levi Jahnke, accompanying himself on guitar for his vocal solo, “Like A Cowboy,” by Randy Houser. The duet of Lydia Hildebrandt and Signey Stoesz claimed runner-up honors. The duo shared the vocal duet, “Leave the Pieces,” by The Wreckers, with Stoesz accompanying the selection on guitar. Third-place was awarded to Liana Blomgren for her comedic chipmunk vocal solo rendition of the Sam Smith hit, “Stay With Me.”
In addition, the night featured a “Clash of the Classes,” a competition between each high school class as they showcased themselves with a lip sync, skit, dance, etc. The judges ranked the classes from grades 7-12 from #1-#6. Each class earned COTY (class of the year) points for their rankings, as well as a class prize, and the winning class, a traveling trophy. Top class was the seniors, followed in order by the juniors, sophomores, freshmen, eighth-grade and seventh-grade.
A free will donation was collected, with funds raised going towards a Haydn-to-Hip Hop Class – a two-year MLHS music course – student trip to the birthplace of Rock-N-Roll – Memphis, Tennessee and Nashville, Tennesse in June 2015.
Below is a complete rundown of the performing acts in order of appearance:
The Acts
* Ana Fentanez – Vocal Solo of “Little Too Much” by Shawn Mendes.
* Comedic Vocal Solo by Karen Soutthivong, accompanied on piano by Liana Blomgren.
* Amethyst Hopkins – Vocal Solo to “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” by Cher from the Burlesque soundtrack.
* Jaelin Renquist – Vocal Solo/Piano Accompaniment to “Rivers & Roads” by The Head and the Heart.
* Liana Blomgren – Comedic Vocal Solo of “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith.
* Akin Tema-Lopez – Original Free-Style Bass Guitar improvisation.
* Signey Stoesz and Lydia HIldebrandt – Vocal Duet of “Leave the Pieces” by The Wreckers.
* Amy Bartsch and Brittany Garnica – Vocal Duet of “Listen to Your Heart” by the Belgian band, DHT.
* Joel Salgado – Free-Style Dance to “Chain Hang Low” remix.
* Junior Louangsaphakdy and Tiger Segmany – Comedy Duet Act.
* Levi Jahnke – Guitar Solo of “Like A Cowboy” by Randy Houser.
A special guest appearance was made by the Haydn-to-Hip Hop Class as they shared a “Midget Dance” skit.
Lights and sound for the evening was by Jareya Harder and Caleb Rempel. Donna Peterson and Madelyn Regier handled the videotaping and photography.
To get a look at the Music In Our Schools video made by the Haydn-to-Hip Hop Class that involved all students at MLPS – from preschool to seniors – click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXjfMH4li_E
The top three acts were:
THE 2015 MLHS Haydn-to-Hip Hop Student Talent Show winner was senior Levi Jahnke. Jahnke sang the vocal solo, “Like A Cowboy” by Randy Houser accompanying himself on guitar.
RUNNERS-UP FOR 2015 – the vocal duet of Lydia Hildebrandt, left and Signey Stoesz, right, with their rendition of “Leave the Pieces” by The Wreckers. Stoesz played guitar as accompaniment to the selection.
SAM SMITH’S HIT, “Stay With Me” – at least the comedic chipmunk version – performed by Liana Blomgren, earned the sophomore third-place in the talent show.
Additional entertainment included the following – in no particular order:
AKIN TEMA-LOPEZ improvised free-style on his electric bass guitar.
SEVENTH-GRADER JOEL Salgado presented a free-style dance to the “Chain Hang Low” Remix – as he takes the message on his T-shirt directly to the public – “Don’t Kill My Vibe.”
AMETHYST HOPKINS, A sophomore at MLHS, shared the vocal solo “You Haven’t See the Last of Me” by Cher from the Burlesque soundtrack. She was accompanied on piano by Andrea Brinkman.
TAYLOR STEWART DOESN’T have anything on Karen Soutthivong. The sophomore presented a comedic version of one of the singers’ popular selections. Accompanying on piano was Liana Blomgren.
JAELIN RENQUIST ACCOMPANIED her vocal solo, “Rivers and Roads” by The Head and the Heart, on piano.
THIS ACT FEATURED the piano and vocal duet of Amy Bartsch, left and Brittany Garnica, right. The pair shared “Listen to Your Heart” by DHT.
ATTEMPTING TO KEEP directions straight was the emphasis of the comedy act of Junior Louangsaphakdy, left and Tiger Sengmany, right.
BREAKING THE ICE as the first act to perform in the talent show was Ana Fentanez with “Little Too Much” by Shawn Mendes.
The “Clash of the Classes” – grades 7-12 – in order of placement:
FIRST-PLACE CLASS went to the seniors. Pictured above, from left, Caleb Rempel, Callie Jackson, Deaunna Carter-Finner and Louis Louangthilath.
MORE OF THE lip-synced music – and actual moves of the MLHS senior class (no stunt doubles were used). This scene emphasizes Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop.” From left, Caleb Rempel, Callie Jackson, Brianna Jensen, Brianna Soutthivong (behind is Deaunna Carter-Finne) and Lydia Hildebrandt.
SENIOR JARED SAUNDERS emphatically declares STOP! . . . And then the music shifted.
FINAL SCENE FROM the senior skit featured Ben Grev, front – with ice water running through his veins – on the vocals of “Ice, Ice Baby.” Behind, from left, Austin Rogers, Eric Wenner nd Olivia Hopwood.
THE JUNIOR CLASS went Wicked to be named the second-place class. Above they perform the song “Popular” from the Broadway musical. Reaching high to lip-sync the lead on the lyrics was Ethan Karschnik, front, Watching at back is Chanah Brandt.
ON THE RISE to becoming “Popular” is Chanah Brandt, lifted on the shoulders of her junior class mates. From left, Signey Stoesz, Carmen Syverson, Ryan McCue, Sam Xayanourom, Michaela Cate and Carly Paulson.
THIRD-PLACE CLASS award went to the MLHS sophomores. Recognizable, from left, Kalley Rempel, Kassandra Tellez, Andrew (1/2 of the James Bond twins) Fast and Brook Sunderman, Karen Soutthivong, Lexia Peters and Jack Wendt.
MICHAEL JACKSON (RUBEN Fentanez) made an appearance during the sophomore skit. Behind is Aaron Fast – the other 1/2 of the Bond – James Bond – Fast twins.
THE FRESHMEN CLASS brings to life the songs of High School Musical. Recognizable, from left, Brodie Freeman, A. J. Vongsy, Junior Louangsaphakdy, Jordan Boldt, Madison Schroeder, Marta Stoesz, (behind is Kris Menken), Jorja Lepp, Kristina Vongkaenchanh, Jae Faber, Jewel Soutthivong and Reynaldo Capetillo.
LIGHTING UP THE auditorium stage was . . .
. . . THE EIGHTH-GRADE class, courtesy of their glow stick-accented clothing. Recognizable from left, Brittany Garnica, Jaelin Renquist, Kyla Perkins and Taylor Naas.
THE SEVENTH-GRADE Class skit featured a whole lotta free-style dancing, led by Zach Palm-Khamvongsa, left and Joel Salgado, right. Behind is Emilee Xayanourom.
MEMBERS OF THE Haydn-to-Hip Hop Class do a little “Kung Fu Fighting.” From left, Eric Wenner, Jenny Wright, Ben Grev and Lydia Hildebrandt.
HOST AND HOSTESS on the evening were Haydn-to-Hip Hop Class members Austin Rogers, left and Lydia Hildebrandt, right.
“WO”MANNING THE SOUND electronics was Haydn-to-Hip Hop Class teacher and MLPS music and choir director, Andrea Brinkman.
THE TALENT SHOW, as well as all of the other activities during March as “Music In Our Schools” Month was courtesy of the Haydn-to-Hip Hop Class. Front, from left, Jenny Wright, instructor Andrea Brinkman and Lydia Hildebrandt. Back, from left, Hayden Fast, Brianna Jensen, Austin Rogers, Byron Franz, Ben Grev, Deaunna Carter-Finne and Eric Wenner.
