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AMS talent show pays off
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The participants in the Austintown Middle School Talent Show showed off some of their trademark personality on Feb. 23. That personality makes them some of the best performers at AMS.
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Kayleigh Cannell helped choreograph a dance to the song "Whip My Hair," and danced with her friends Taylor Pipoly and Siera Macioge. Cannell showed off some of the sass it took to make her dance really shine.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .During Austintown Middle School's Talent Show on Feb. 23, Regina Sletvold sang her heart out to the song "That Should Be Me."
By SARAH FOOR
On Feb. 24, the auditorium at Austintown Middle School was a mixture of “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance,” as AMS’s talented students and staff showed their skills in singing, dancing, and playing music in their PTA Talent Show.
The event served as a fundraiser for sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade class trips and also donated money to the Relay for Life. The show raised $1,000 for the Relay and trips through ticket sales, concessions and basket raffles. However, the PTA insisted that the show was more about giving the students a chance to shine.
“We know there are so many talented kids here at AMS, and we wanted to give them a chance to perform to their music, their way,” explained event co-chair Deb Fuller.
“For students who don’t play big sports basketball or football, they might not get a spotlight quite like this. Here, everyone gets a chance,” Fuller observed.
AMS principal Chris Berni agreed that the show was a wonderful showcase for his students.
“I love any chance for our students to show their gifts and talents. Even the students who aren’t involved have been incredibly supportive, and are here to cheer on their friends,” said Berni.
The talent show included performances of Irish dance, songs played on the violin, piano, and saxophone and featured many singers and dancers. AMS staff showed its support by creating a teachers’ band that opened the show with a performance of John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change.”
Favorites during the show’s first act were dancers Tyler Pipoly, Kayleigh Cannell, and Madison Glavic, who danced to the song “Whip My Hair.”
“We were nervous, but the energy of the crowd was great and really kept us going,” said Pipoly after her dance.
“We just had fun and showed our personalities,” reflected Cannell, who choreographed the dance.
“If there is another talent show next year, we’ll definitely be performing again,” Cannell added.