Stage set for Catholic Schools Got Talent
January 15, 2019
Twelve acts will take the stage on Feb. 2 at the inaugural Catholic Schools Got Talent contest at St. Pius X. High School in Houston. Diverse entries from Galveston-Houston Catholic school fourth to eighth grade students feature a range of performing arts. An Art Walk will also highlight students’ artwork in grades Kindergarten to eighth grade in conjunction with the talent show. Photo courtesy of Rob Laughter.
HOUSTON — Dozens of audition videos poured in with Catholic school students singing, playing piano, guitar, drums, dancing and demonstrating other talents to be showcased live in the upcoming Catholic Schools Got Talent program Feb. 2 at the St. Pius X High School auditorium.
Five judges, individuals with ties to community theaters, reviewed the auditions and selected the 12 finalists to perform at the talent show. A word play on the popular TV show, America’s Got Talent, the Catholic schools’ competition was open to all Catholic School levels fourth through eighth grades in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
The brainchild of St. Rose of Lima Catholic School principal Bernadette Drabek and her middle school students, the talent show at 811 W. Donovan St. hopes to raise funds for military veterans programs. Tickets are now available for the event starting at 5 p.m. with an Art Walk and the show at 7 p.m.
Drabek said, “The ultimate goal is to showcase Catholic Schools and the phenomenal talent we currently have in our schools. We want Catholic Schools Got Talent to be an annual event that showcases the talent of our Catholic Schools during Catholic Schools Week to bring all our schools together to celebrate Catholic education.”
She sought out the support of Carmen Armistead, head of St. Pius X, who agreed to host the event at the high school this year with plans to rotate the annual event at other Catholic high schools. A committee consisting of Catholic school and Archdiocesan leaders was formed to plan the event and lend many helping hands to make the idea come alive, said Laurel Keller, associate director of the Archdiocesan Office of Development.
Catholic Schools superintendent Debra Haney said, “Catholic Schools Got Talent is a great creative outlet for students because it gives them an opportunity to participate in a display of their uniqueness that may not always be showcased in school.”
She added, “The event provides a way for our schools to highlight and give recognition to students for non-academic gifts, which supports our mission to educate the whole child and delight in God’s creation.”
Haney thanked the Pius X High School students who will be acting as the production team and ambassadors.
“They will showcase their gifts and talents in staging, sound, lighting skills and hospitality, which will provide role modeling for our younger students who may not necessarily want to be the performer on stage, yet still be a participant in the event,” the superintendent said.
To include those students with other artistic talents, the inaugural Catholic Schools Art Gallery Exhibit & Competition will take place prior to the show highlighting students’ artwork in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.
Submissions for the Art Walk are chosen from each Archdiocesan school to compete in the areas of originality, creativity, skill and drawing ability based around the National Catholic Education Association’s (NCEA) theme of “Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”
“It’s a wonderful team-building experience for all ages and a beautiful collaboration between all of the schools in The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston,” Haney said. “Our efforts to share the artistic and performing arts’ talents of our students is thrilling for us, and we hope you will join us for this electrifying inaugural event!”
For more information and to purchase $5 tickets, visit catholicschoolsgottalent.org.