 "Photo: Megan Nevins")
 "Photo: Megan Nevins")
On Thursday December 3, SUNY Rockland held its first annual high school and college talent show, “RCC’s Got Talent!”
The show, hosted by America’s Next Great Star Production Company, was free and open to the public. As part of RCC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, various bands, vocalists, dancers, poets, comedians, and performers from all over the county auditioned for this “red carpet” event.
The event, which host Joshua Walker said was the “best experience of the fall semester” for his LimeLight Production Company, took place in the Cultural Arts Theater in front of a packed house.
On Wednesday, December 2nd, America’s Next Great Star Production Company held a campus Casting Call to the main event scheduled for the following evening. At the beginning of the final show, a tenth performer was to be selected from a group of “wild cards,” which was a combination of performers’
names that did not advance after the auditions.
The show began with two randomly selected audience members being called on stage. They then disappeared backstage.
The volunteers returned to the stage, dancing to “Barbie Girl” in blonde wigs and fluffy pink boas. The crowd went hysterical and then voted on the best Barbie. The winner was awarded an iTunes gift card.
A jazz band called The Politicians answered with an amazing performance. The trio Christian Alvarado, Jonathan Toscano, and Carlos Noel rocked the audience with their incredible instrumental talent.
Sonny Reyes, a friendly staff member of the Bursar’s Office, Patty Maloney-Titland, the Coordinator of the Performing Arts Department and a professor on campus, and Marc Giammarco, the Coordinator of Prevention Services as well as a singer/song writer, served as the judges for the competition.
Next up was a high school student who blew the audience away with his very own piano composition. Sixteen year-old Adam Gloc even used his elbows to play the instrument.
The Chiku Awali Youth Ensemble took the stage next with a beautiful dance routine. Their style of West African dance was used to highlight the ladies’ beauty and great dance moves.Next to perform was one of RCC’s international students from Haiti, who sang her own version of Whitney Houston’s “My Love is Your Love.” Sophia Francois charmed the audience with her beautiful voice as well as her commanding stage presence.
A male/female pair took the stage next with a riveting performance of intense dance moves. Their incredible partnership and detailed dance moves left the crowd wanting more. Lunedie Pamphile and Kevaughn Issacs worked up a sweat that didn’t go unnoticed. The judges gave gracious feedback to the dynamic duo.
Any fan of house music would have enjoyed the next act. Adrian Alesna took the stage with his unbelievable talent, performing with glow-sticks.
Just when the crowd thought the show couldn’t have gotten any better, wild card performer Ernie Fisher entered the building as an Elvis Impersonator. His hilarious performance made the audience actually believe Elvis was there in front of them!
Next was the memorable Michael Jackson Medley performance. RCC student Clifford Joseph got the crowd going with his smooth moves and moon walking feet to some of MJ’s greatest hits.
After the audience rocked out to “Billie Jean” and “Smooth Criminal,” Singer Nathalie Alame sang a wonderful rendition of “I’ll Be There” alongside the piano, played by her friend Jonathan Ryan.
Last but certainly not least on the list was the group Sexy Heroes in Transit, who some may have seen perform at last year’s Bamboozle concert. Their stage performance engaged the whole audience.
After the rocking performance by the four family friends, Chris Watts, Mike Watts, Nicholas Everett and Mike Schrew, the judges picked the three final contestants.
The audience then got to text message in their favorite performer, choosing between pianist Adam Gloc, singer Nathalie Alame, and the four Sexy Heroes.
In third place, Adam Gluc was awarded a $100 Visa gift card. Runner-up was the adorable Nathalie Alame who was granted a $200 gift card. Sexy Heroes grabbed first place.They were awarded with a $500 gift card and will be put forward for a real chance to become America’s Next Great Star. All ten contestants received a certificate of participation.
Duo Lunedie Pamphile and Kevaughn Issacs told Outlook, “It was a great, new opportunity and experience. I skipped classes-three to be exact-but it was worth it.”
The Sexy Heroes in Transit weren’t the only main winners, and they admitted it themselves. Drummer Mike Schrew said “It feels great to have won when there was such a spread of talent.”
Lead singer Chris Watts agreed. “It feels good to have actually won because everyone that performed was unbelievably talented.”
All four of the rocking cuties agreed that the money they won would go towards recording. They will continue writing and recording songs which will hopefully land them a record deal around the summertime.
They band gave credit to their musical influences as well, such as Green Day, The Who, and Bowling for Soup. Their self proclaimed genre of “HaPunk,” a happy upbeat punk rock could be found on Facebook, YouTube, and even iTunes.
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