RaiderNet
May 29, 2020
Students and Staff Perform in Virtual Bodley's Got Talent
By Andrew Smith
On Friday, May 15, G. Ray Bodley's annual talent show, sponsored by The HOPE Club, aired online for the first time. Bodley's Got Talent was posted at 7 p.m. and featured 15 submissions from GRB students and staff. This year, the show was judged by Mr. Nami, Mr. Ward, and Mrs. Sard.
The winners for "Best Faculty Submission" were Ms. Rickert and Ms. Arduini. Their act was titled "The Glowstick Dancers." HOPE Club advisor Ms. Palmer said, "They did a great job of lighting up the stage!"
The "Most Unique Talent" award went to GRB senior Kira Whitehead. She sings beautifully alone, however, for this act she used technology to perform her piece in three-part harmony. Next year she will be attending the University of Buffalo to study Theatre.
Third Place went to GRB senior Andrew Smith. Smith is a violinist and concert master of GRB's symphonic orchestra, so for the show he performed an excerpt from "Sonata No. 3 in C minor" written by Edvard Grieg. Next year, he will be attending the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam to study music education with a minor in French.
The winner of second place went to another GRB senior, Kaylee Foster. She performed "Holy Water" and not only did she sing beautifully, but she played the guitar accompaniment, too. Next year, she will be attending Cayuga Community College to study Criminal Justice.
Finally, first place went to Alexis Barth. Barth is a senior at GRB and sang "She Used to be Mine" from the musical "Waitress". Next year, she will be attending SUNY Fredonia to study Theatre.
Foster said she enjoys performing in Bodley's Got Talent. She added, "I feel as though the talent show gives me and all of the other kids a chance to show off our gifts and talents to our school and community. It is also not like other competitive areas in our school. I feel it is more inclusive to all individuals, which I feel really enhances the community and its values."
All of the winners this year are actually past participants in Bodley's Got Talent. Andrew Smith and Kira Whitehead sang "Africa" by Toto in an a capella group, Nami's Pitches, and received third place last year. Alexis Barth sang with Kelsey Caza, performing "Shallow" from the film A Star is Born. Kaylee Foster sang "100 Billion Times" and was accompanied by her uncle on guitar.
Kira Whitehead added, "Even though Nami's Pitches weren't able to make an epic comeback, I'm still glad that we were able to have a talent show online. It was really cool seeing all of the different acts from home."
Congratulations to all of our winners and everyone who participated! You can enjoy Bodley's Got Talent by clicking the link below.