One high schooler’s voice rose above others to claim the win in an area talent search.
Five Thomas County Central High School students competed in the local chapter of Omega Psi Phi’s 32nd annual Talent Hunt, held Sept. 12. Sophomore JHarre Bush sang his way to the win with what TCCHS Choral Director Nicole Davis called a “stirring rendition” of “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
“I participated in the talent hunt because I wanted to perform somewhere other than church,” Bush said. “I also wanted to win a scholarship to help pay for my schooling. I felt that my performance went extremely well, better than I thought it was going to be.”
Participation in the search helped Bush in many ways.
“It gave me a new atmosphere that I had never been in before,” he said. “The judges also gave me some critiques to work on, and that was awesome for me because I’ve never been judged on my singing!”
TCCHS student Logan Leik was named runner-up in the competition. He sang a German song, “Bist du bei mir,” about “a man that has lost the one he loves.”
“I participated to broaden my singing capabilities,” Leik said. “I feel confident in my performance.”
He said participation in the event helped him “know what to work on to help my sound, expression, and pronunciation of foreign languages.”
“I feel that my participation at this event was very worthwhile and I cannot wait to participate next year,” Leik said.
Other TCCHS students who participated were Ansley Brinson, Ava Glover, and Steryln Austin.
“I was extremely proud of the students who participated,” Davis said. “They had great stage presence and sang quite well. The students who participate in events such as this show superior musicianship and self-motivation. Each student said that they enjoyed and valued this experience.”
Participant Ava Glover sang Leonard Bernstein’s “I Feel Pretty.” Though she feels she “messed up,” Glover still felt it was “the most confident performance I’ve done.”
“It helped me get past my inhibitions,” she said of her participation. “I was comfortable on that stage, like I have never been before.”
Fellow performer Ansley Brinson sang “Lasciatemi Morire” by Claudio Monteverdi. She participated to try to get a college scholarship and said the experience is already helping her be a better singer.
“The judges critiqued me on the way I sang and told me things I need to work on, which is already helping me,” Brinson said. “Thank you. Even though I didn’t win to move on, I am so very glad I got the opportunity to be a part of it.”
Davis said the school “has long been associated” with the event and, for the past two years, winners were from TCCHS.
“We continue to be involved because I think it is important for our students to gain the experience of solo performance,” she said. “It builds skill and confidence, and prepares them for college auditions. We look forward to participating in the future.”
Bush will participate in the state competition in Atlanta on Oct. 3 and is grateful for the opportunity. He thanked everyone who has supported him and his parents “for just being there” and loving him.
“I will prepare very hard,” he said. “I am practicing as much as I can while at home. I am aiming for first place, so I am doing all that I can to succeed. The sky is the limit.”