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Schools

Hills Got Talent

Students show off their skills on stage.

The Half Hollow Hills community joined together to enjoy the talented students of their district during Half Hollow Hills Got Talent, an event presented by the PTA Council Special Events committee.  

At a little after 7 p.m., 600 audience members at Candlewood Middle School saw students take the stage with skills they honed over time – talents such as singing, composing music and karate. For two and a half hours, with no intermission, judges watched in order to make their decisions.

The grand prize winner was Lexie Martin, who sang “I Believe” by Fantasia. Best performance in the high school category was Nick Regueiro; best entertainers in the high school category were Shana Velez, Jordan Williams, Simone Henry and Kimberly Rodriguez, who did a dance routine to a medley of songs. Middle school’s best performance was Daniel Rudin, who played the piano and sang “Piano Man” by Billy Joel. Middle school’s best entertainer was Nathaniel Bear, who sang “Somebody to Love” by Queen.

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“I thought I really did show what I was capable of and that’s why I like the idea of Hills Got Talent this year,” said Regueiro, who composed a contemporary arrangement and played the piano of the jazz standard “God Bless the Child” written in the ‘30s and made famous by Billie Holiday. “I was able to do more than just get up and sing.”

“The kids just wanted to perform,” said CorrieAnn Young, the past PTA president who helped between the students and the producers. “Nobody asked what the prizes were. Everybody just wanted to perform. They didn’t care about winning. Of course they wanted to win, but the winners didn’t even ask ‘what did I win?’ They were just so happy to be recognized for their talents.”

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Even students who didn’t win were pleased to be a part of this event.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Rachel Caduri, a student from Hills West who performed Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.” “Whether you win or don’t win, everyone on that stage is so talented – I honestly don’t think there was a person who didn’t deserve to win and show everybody how hard they worked, and I think that’s nice.”

Caduri, who had help from her friends Diana Knieste, Martine McKinney and Kim Dyckman, began singing in a dress and mask. Then for a few moments, she went backstage to take off her mask and change her clothes, while her friends snapped flashing photographs on stage to appear as the paparazzi. She returned soon after in a new outfit and without a mask.  

For Caduri, she was happy she was able to get over her stage fright.

“Once you get on the stage and give it your all, you get over those fears of stage fright,” she said. “It’s a chance to show what you have and if it makes you nervous you go out there and give it your best.”

Martin, the grand prize winner, received a $2,000 scholarship to and the opportunity to record her song in a studio, along with gift cards to iTunes and Friendly’s.

“I think the most important part of this competition is to have fun, entertain everyone and get a message across to the audience,” said Regueiro.

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