Students filled the seats of Jones Auditorium and looked on as their peers showed off their hidden talents at the Blue and Gold Talent Show on Oct. 22.
The Blue and Gold Talent Show is an ongoing Homecoming tradition that showcases student’s talents, featuring everything from singing to VR gaming. The show provided a platform for students to perform in the spotlight and come out of their shell.
“If you think you are weird, quirky or different you need to embrace it,” Master of Ceremonies Joseph Tran said. “As nervous as you are everybody wants to see you perform and wants to love you. If you find something you love, just go with it. You need to do it because it makes you happy and you should never look back.”
Master of Ceremonies Joseph Tran captivates the audience.
Throughout the night students nervously presented their unique talents. Audience members experienced magic tricks, American Sign Language through music and instrumental performances. Tran had the audience actively engaged throughout each performance and enthusiastically presented each contestant.
“My favorite part was getting a chance to work with everyone. I like to be involved in the whole process, because at some point I was on that stage…I like to see how I can help them and maybe share some of my experiences, to make them feel better about themselves. Honestly, they are all so talented and it was an honor to share the stage,” Tran said.
The night had 10 different acts each competing for the grand price of $300. Prizes were granted to the top three performances of the night.
“Judging is the hardest, they are all so good and afraid to keep going. It’s really hard but you just got to follow the criteria…just the encouragement to show their talent and being fearless of showing who they are,” Irma Reyes, Blue and Gold talent show judge, said.
Winners of the night were Ty Benavides, Victoria Castro and Luis Briseno. Each performer captured the audience and gave an authentic performance.
Ty Benavides tips his hat to the crowd after his performance.
Benavides performed “Can’t take my eyes off of you” by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and had the audience clapping to the beat. Castro had the crowd singing along with one of Selena Quintanilla’s best selling records “No Me Queda Mas” and Briseno captured the audience with his interpretation of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen.
“’No me queda mas’ is a song about being stuck in the friend zone, it’s something I can relate to so that’s why I chose the song. I also just wanted to pay homage to Selena, since I grew up playing and hearing her all the time,” Castro said.
Victoria Castro singing “No me queda mas.”
Audience members waved their hands in the air as Briseno played his guitar and sang some of the world’s most known lyrics.
“This is a song [Hallelujah] that everyone knows and everybody likes. My junior year in high school I got to perform it at Texas Boys State and it meant a lot to me. Seeing everyone at UT [University of Texas at Austin] and all the lights will always have a special place in my heart, and I wanted to pay homage to that performance,” Briseno said.
Luis Briseno sings “Hallelujah” at the talent show.
That night each contestant lost their fear of the stage and embraced their talent.