Link to performance: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TIo08ZcogJ2OVEy6QN1ONPikqTiGpfGe/view?usp=sharing
On the 5th of July, the Youth Day holiday following the end of CT week for Y5s, PHP organised our very own Virtual Talent Showcase. Aiming to raise school spirit and mental health amid COVID, the audience was wowed with a myriad of performances by students and teachers alike. Buoyed by the success of our concert last year, this showcase comprised 13 performances, ranging from self-composed songs and energetic rock performances to magic tricks and dance performances.
To start the ball rolling, Mr Patrick Wong and Ms Michelle Kwok performed a soulful rendition of ‘You’ve Got a Friend’ by Carole King. Ms Kwok showed off her multitude of talents by playing the keyboard, the bass and the guitar, while Mr Wong took the opportunity to showcase cute plushies that brought a smile to the audience’s faces. Their warm, soothing cover was definitely comforting to those who were feeling isolated.
Mr Patrick Wong and Ms Michelle Kwok
Next up, we had another teacher performance, as Mr Harapan Ong donned his (metaphorical) magician’s hat. With stage charisma that had the audience hooked, he separated one suit from a whole, seemingly shuffled deck, one card at a time. His performance left the audience oohing and aahing, marvelling over his deft sleight-of-hand.
Mr Harapan Ong’s magical fingers
Following this, our ears were treated to hauntingly beautiful performances from Gene, Elizabeth, and an anonymous pianist. Gene, a Y5 peer helper, left the audience enraptured with his melancholic, evocative cover of DJ Okawari’s ‘Flower Dance’. The lovely layering between his violin and guitar depicted wildflowers rustling in a gentle wind. We had another performance by a Y6 peer helper, Elizabeth. Her relaxing, expressive piano cover of ‘Wave’ by ATEEZ left the audience exclaiming over her talent. We also had a mystery pianist, who played Fantaisie Impromptu Op 66 with such dexterity that their fingers flew over the keyboard, seamlessly transitioning from a frenzied tempo to dreamy and enchanting.
Multitalented Gene!
Speaking of collaborations, a number of groups got the opportunity to showcase their chemistry in their duets, trios, and bands. Mr Jarrod Lee, Mikiko and Bernadette teamed up to sing ‘You Will Be Found’ from the musical Dear Evan Hansen. Their harmonies were so lovely that an audience member professed they had gotten goosebumps. Riaz and Priscilla, a Y6 peer helper, teamed up to sing ‘Night Changes’ by One Direction. Riaz’ rich tone melded perfectly with Priscilla’s lighter one, more than doing justice to this classic. Triceratops was another fan favourite, consisting of Top and Cera. The audience was treated to a sneak peek of their album (to be released at the end of the year!), with the single ‘Let Me Love You Once’, composed by Top. Their song was absolutely adorable, with semi-lofi vibes to chill to.
Triceratops
Thought that duets and trios were all we had to offer? Think again! Not one, but two bands gathered together to demonstrate their overwhelming chemistry. The Greytickers gave an excellent cover of ‘Blinding Lights’ by The Weeknd, with their atmospheric performance leaving the audience mesmerised. Their members looked nothing short of swaggy, too, decked out in caps and sunglasses. Rubberbands, an all-girl rock band, gave an amazing cover of ‘Circle the Drain’ by Soccer Mommy, with their soft toys adding a warm, cute touch. The song addresses the difficulties brought about by depression, which many might find relatable.
Rubberbands and their plushies
On top of the many musical performances, our penultimate talent was Jiayue. She covered a mashup of City Girls’ discography, showing off her moves in a retro, black-and-white performance. Her groovy dance moves had us wishing we could dance like her too.
Jiayue
Gopesh, a Y6 peer helper, sang and played the guitar for a self-composed piece, bringing us to a meaningful conclusion. That’s not all; he performed ‘Poraadu’, or ‘Struggle’, in both Tamil and English! His song was really encouraging, especially to those who were having a tough time.
The talent showcase was brought into fruition through a lot of sweat, hard work, and love by all the performers, and the peer helpers who organised this showcase. The talented performers were truly a joy to behold, and it was really special for all present to be able to take a breather in their busy lives, and recognise, enjoy and appreciate our talented schoolmates and teachers. We hope that the talent showcase brought a little bit of joy to everyone, and thank you to everyone who has contributed, indirectly or directly, towards making this showcase a success!
RAFFLES PHP 