Glads Got Talent auditioner Durdona Omonova, a senior, prepares to sing in Room 251 on March 22. Glads Got Talent has happened almost annually since 2010, when Tri-M students pitched the idea to Tri-M adviser Dr. Kang. “The original talent show came about because students in the Tri-M Music Honor Society wanted to have a venue for students who were not in band, orchestra and chorus, who would like to do a solo and just share their talents with the community.” Photo by Jesse Dantzler
The Tri-M Music Honor Society held auditions on March 21-22 for the 2024 iteration of Glads Got Talent, scheduled for April 19.
Every year, Clarke Central High School’s Tri-M Music Honors Society organizes and hosts a talent show called Glads Got Talent, where student musicians perform on-stage to be evaluated by a panel of local music professionals and educators.
Glads Got Talent has existed as an opportunity for student musicians since 2010. This year, the talent show is offering cash prizes of $50, $40 and $30 for first, second and third place respectively.
Students of all grade levels are welcome to showcase their musical talent, but to perform at the talent show itself, they needed to demonstrate their skills to a panel of Tri-M student judges. Sophomore Ren Lowe-King both auditioned for and performed at Glads Got Talent in her freshman year, and she has changed her approach to preparation this year.
“Last year, I thought about (my audition) all day. I practiced and practiced and practiced,” Lowe-King said. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t practice, but this year I didn’t obsess over it as much, I barely thought about it during the day, and I was just like, ‘Oh, yeah, I have (an audition).’ So yeah, I still practiced, but it wasn’t like (last year), like, ‘Oh my God, I have to do good!’ Because, I think when you’re younger, you’re like, ‘I have to impress everyone!’ But (when) you mature, then (the need to impress is) not as bad.”
“The original talent show came about because students in the Tri-M Music Honor Society wanted to have a venue for students who were not in band, orchestra and chorus, who would like to do a solo and just share their talents with the community.”
— Eunice Kang, Tri-M adviser
Tri-M member Sola Ishibashi, a senior, had the opportunity to evaluate two student auditions on the first day of the audition.
“I’m looking for artistry and passion in the performance,” Ishibashi said. “For example, (sophomore Margo McDaniel) was very passionate about her dancing, and that was something I really liked. I think that passion plays a big role in art. When you perform art, it’s (a) performance for other people. So if you don’t show passion yourself, if you don’t love what you’re doing, then what’s the point?”
Tri-M adviser and fine arts department Co-Chair Dr. Eunice Kang scheduled the Glads Got Talent talent show to take place on April 19, and the auditionees who’ve been nominated will be judged by local music educators and other professional musicians.
“We have judges who are local music educators or music professionals that are not biased,” Kang said. “They don’t teach here, at the school, (so) they don’t know the students, necessarily. We award first, second and third place cash prizes, and all of the proceeds go to benefit Tri-M’s mission of serving our community through advocacy for music education.”
All 10 of the musicians who auditioned will be performing at the talent show itself. Lowe-King is looking forward to singing on-stage again this year.
“The talent show is really good. The people are just the sweetest human beings ever, they’re so genuine. Being surrounded by people who are supportive, I think is really good because then you’re not as nervous for the actual performance,” Lowe-King said. “I find when I perform on stage, I’m much more confident than if I’m just auditioning for something, because then I’m like, ‘Okay, we made it this far. I already got one group’s approval.’”
