Before a music act headlines this year’s Spring Fling, a student will take the stage.
Who performs – and the talent that person chooses to showcase – depends on a panel that will judge “GW’s Got Talent,” a University-wide competition to be held this fall, and student votes. Organizers have not yet decided whether the winner will replace an opening music act, or if the event will have two openers including the student performer.
The inspiration for the first-ever competition came from GW Hillel director Rabbi Yoni Kaiser-Blueth, who hosted a “Mr. and Mrs. GW” pageant last year and pushed the incoming Program Board chair to plan a larger talent show.
A group made up of members of the Program Board and GW Hillel will work out the final details, including audition dates and members of the judging panel, in the coming weeks. Kaiser-Blueth said organizers are considering dates in October and November, and he will ask GW administrators and guests to judge the competition.
Like “America’s Got Talent,” both performing groups and solo artists can audition.
The judges’ panel will then narrow down the contestants to 12 finalists. After a final showcase, students will cast votes to choose the winner.
Though students involved in performance-based organizations are invited to audition, Program Board Executive Chair Liz Moses said the show is meant to give opportunities to those who might not otherwise showcase their talents.
“[If you’re] not necessarily involved in an a capella group or student theater group, you’re just a student who’s got talent who wants to show it off, this is kind of the thing for you,” Moses said.
The talent show is part of the Program Board’s push to highlight more student talent at University-wide events. At last year’s Spring Fling, then-senior Abbay Misganaw took the stage as DJ Haile Supreme to open for Jay Sean.
Junior Jackie Susuni, the Program Board’s corporate relations co-chair, said the talent show is an effort to bring variety to the stage during Spring Fling, which traditionally has two music acts.
“I think it will be really entertaining and a change in scene for some people,” Susuni said. “Everyone’s really used to seeing the same type of shows, and this is quite different.”
