The room is silent as anticipation and nerves begin to rise. A knock on the door. The stage manager comes into the choir room where the contestants are waiting to be called.

“What is the name of your guys’ song?” asked the stage manager.

And without even thinking, the first words that came to senior Chase Colvin’s mind were, “Ah crap!” This would be the name of the winning performance.

Colvin, on the bass guitar, and senior Evan Carlton, on the drums, performed their newly named song at the annual Har-Ber’s Got Talent show. They had no idea that they would be chosen as the winners for this year’s show.

“It was actually a surprise. I really didn’t even think we would place because we had so much talent to compete against,” said Carlton, immediately following the announcement of the winners.

Students came out in full force, displaying tremendous talents ranging from a song in Spanish, a saxophone piece, to self-written songs, a jazz band melody, and also a Napoleon Dynamite dance.

One of the judges, assistant principal Shannon Tisher, was awestruck by the amount of talent exhibited in the show.

“The talent was mind-blowing!” said Mrs. Tisher. “I was expecting talent, but the caliber was outstanding. It truly reminded me of why me of why I became a principal.”

With so many great performances, the winner could be anyone.

“I didn’t think we had a chance of winning with all the amazing singers and dancers we were performing with,” said Colvin.

The judges were evaluating ability and quality. When it came down to the end, what really made the decision was the “WOW” factor.

“We felt that Carlton and Colvin were not just super talented, but really got the audience fired up and had great stage presence,” said judge and English teacher Katy Moore.