Lindsey Berke ’19
Staff Writer
Merrimack’s Got Talent took place on April 16 at 6:00 p.m in Stevens Auditorium. This annual event is put on by the Merrimack Cultural Diversity Alliance (MCDA) club, and this year it collaborated with the Student Government Diversity Committee and WMCK.
The show itself is open to any individual associated with the college, and this spring, there were over a dozen performers, and three judges, Michael Piatelli, Sonji Justice, and Andreas Armenis. Some of the acts included singing, dancing, beat boxing, and magic. And, while the goal of Merrimack’s Got Talent is to have fun and support fellow peers, the show does end with three winners, and prizes for incentives. Each performance is followed by brief feedback from the judges, and the winner from last year’s Got Talent, Zach Evans, returned to show off his magic.
“My overall experience with last year’s MGT was great! I enjoyed the judges comments on each performance, and the audience was very receptive… I don’t have good luck with winning competitions, so it was a lovely surprise to see that I won with my act [last year]! I’m performing again because I enjoyed it last year! Personally, I love being able to share my magic with other students and friends. Amidst being an engineering student, it isn’t something I get to do on campus often. I like that the show is a platform for students to showcase what they are passionate about and enjoy doing.”
During the halfway point of the show, a special performance was put on by the Merrimack Step Team, followed by the rest of the performances and the final judging. Audrey Ramirez, one of last year’s judges, and a former Merrimack College student, also attended this year’s show again, and stated,
“My favorite part of Merrimack’s Got Talent is that it gives participants a chance to show off their talents. A lot of people fear performing in front of an audience and Merrimack’s Got Talent is an opportunity for them to conquer their fears.”
Prizes were a $50 Merrimack Bookstore gift card, a 16 inch TV, and Apple AirPods. With so many stunning acts and great performers this year, the decision left judges in a tough place. However, the winners were decided on, and included singing and guitar duo, Gabriella Belanger and Paige Sorensen in third place, dancer, Lindsey Smith in second place, and Brennan Kauffman, taking first place with his piano performance. Regardless, all performers expressed having a great time, and gained a deal of support from the audience.
To conclude this year’s talent show, performers, guests, and faculty were able to grab free food and drinks. While the food was a great way to wrap up the two hour show, it was also a time where everyone was able to connect, and talk to performers before heading out for the night. Merrimack’s Got Talent 2019, ultimately showcased many talented students, and the tradition will hopefully continue for many years to come.
