At Macleans, the field of talent and ambition gathered in the gym on the 12th of June for the long-awaited Talent Quest Prelims day 1, showcasing four unique talents. The energy each performer brought to the stage set the tone for what promises to be a memorable Talent Quest season.
Opening the show with confidence and a dazzling charisma, Mimi and Persephone dominated the stage with their powerful dance duo, harmonising both sharp choreography and attitude in a stylish dance. Their performance featured a mix of tracks including Got It by Marian Hill, Attention by Charlie Puth, Focus by Ariana Grande, and Boss ** by Doja Cat. From smooth dance moves to the dynamic of their routine, the chemistry these two dancers delivered earned loud cheers from the crowd. As the opening act, they managed to set a high standard for the acts to come.
In the Second act, K-pop dance group Hype Sevyn filled the atmosphere with their bold and fierce energy, redefining what it means to have stage presence. Blessing the stage with their performance; Stupid Idiots by Seventeen Hoshi and Woozi, their fun and playful moves matched the crowd’s excitement beat by beat. Perfectly matching their first song, they then performed Jennie, with every move and expression, the group owned the stage, keeping the audience hyped from start to finish. Hype Sevyn definitely made their mark.
Placing a different spin on the talentquest performances, Caitlin Ong brought rhythm gaming to the Talent Quest stage with her live play of Project Sekai. With intense focus, Caitlin’s finger danced across the device screen at an impressive pace, effortlessly racking up combos after combos, stacking up streaks after streaks. Each click, slide and tap was met with the crowd’s growing amazement. Her skillful performance proved that talent isn’t limited to traditional categories, but is something that is gained through discovery and practice.
Closing for the day with a powerful final act, Phoenix Jia took the stage with an electrifying guitar solo. With the amps blazing and his finger flying, Phoenix performed a stunning act with a rock version of Canon in D. Blending the elegance of classical pieces with the power and intensity of the electric guitar. The gym echoed with every riff and every impressive chord as the audience watched with jaws on the floor, Phoenix didn’t just rock the stage, he might’ve rocked a few hearts too.
It was clear that Day One of the Talent Quest didn’t just showcase talent, it celebrated courage and highlighted the hard work it takes to bring that talent to life.
Reflecting on the journey leading up to Talent Quest, each performer dedicated their time and soul to these performances, fitting in after-school practices, weekends, and late nights to perfect their acts. The hard-work was evident on stage, with every performer pouring their heart and emotions in their main-character moment. Reflecting on their performance, Selena Tang from Hype Sevyn commented, ‘Though it took lots of after school and weekend practices, it was all worth it in the end.’ Her words clearly echoed the commitment each performer has shown.
Another member from Hype Sevyn Sophia Wu also mentioned, ‘Preparing for Talent Quest was such a meaningful experience, and choreographing the intro to Like Jennie made it even more special. Our team put in hours of practice,late nights, and rehearsals were filled with laughter. Seeing it all come together on stage was so rewarding!’
The first day of Talent Quest was undoubtedly a success. With a wide range of talent on display from all corners of Macleans College, the performances left the crowd inspired and eager for more. “After the plethora of eye-catching performances of the first day, especially the thrilling guitar solo finale, I’m for sure going down to watch Day Two as well,” Year 12 student Zachary Choi said, beaming with excitement, emphasising the enthusiasm of the audience.
With such an impressive start to the preliminary round, anticipation for what’s to come is already sky-high.
Thursday 26th June
Written by Jocosa Lin, edited by Bianca Hu, Emma Li, Chiron Yung
Photography by: Emma Li
