Compiled by Victoria Lin
We asked finalists in the 2012 Morristown’s Got Talent! show to tell us how they have been preparing for the Feb. 29 show… here’s what some of them said:
Oliver Cervantes
How have you been preparing for the talent show?
Practice. I guess it’s a little easier for me and Charlie compared to some of the bands that are performing since we have our own instruments right at home, with no set up required. We have also been meeting after school in the band room of the high school to run through the piece and pick out certain points that need work.
What has the experience been like thus far?
It has been very exciting. I’m looking forward to playing for the community and sharing even more music with others. But for one thing, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to all these interviews and this media attention. It’s nice seeing myself in the paper or on articles online, but what I really look forward to is just the performance and the chance to share my musical talent with others – which is really what every musician should think.
Good luck charms?
Nothing in particular, although the instrument I’m going to perform with has been with me for a while. I brought it to three honor band auditions last year. Yes, keyboard percussionists lug their instruments to auditions all over the state. Sometimes it isn’t necessary, but most of the time it’s for the best. This year I brought my own marimba to all three auditions. And it’s probably over twice as massive as the xylophone I’ll be using.
Best advice you’ve heard?
Most of the people I come across wish me good luck. What I really want to hear is, “have fun.” I would much rather enjoy myself and miss a few notes than be nervous all the time and play it perfectly. And anyway, once people hear the piece, they would know that it’s pretty much impossible to hit all the right notes all the time.
Who’s coming?
Friends and family! I’ve performed a countless number of times. Just this past Saturday, I was even able to perform with Ben Burgess in the All-State Wind Ensemble at NJPAC. It was great. But Morristown’s Got Talent will definitely have the most people who I personally know in the audience.
If you win the prize money?
I plan to treat it as a scholarship. Maybe put it towards college, but I will definitely spend it on something I value, like music or art.
Danielle Becht
1. I have been preparing for the show by practicing with my voice coaches Darius and Mike, my dance teacher Miss Christin, and my new teacher Miss Cathy, who helps me remember to smile and sing to tell a story. Sometimes I let my mommy watch, but no one else.
2. I have been in the newspaper, on the front cover and that was exciting…I was also just interviewed for TV (Cablevision), but I was pretty nervous for that…I like to sing and dance and perform, but I don’t like to talk much;
3. I don’t have any good luck charms, but I will do the “special handshake” with my mommy for good luck;
4. The best advice I have received is to have lots of fun 🙂
5. My mommy, daddy, brother Bobby, and grandparents are all coming to cheer me on (my little brother Thomas is too young to come though). Also, some people from my school are coming, some of the teachers, and some of my friends and their mommies.
6. If I win the first place prize, Bobby, Thomas and I will get an ice cream from the Creamery, and I might buy each of us a Nintendo game. Mommy and Daddy said the rest will go in my account at the bank.
Joey Gatto of Top Hat
1. How have you been preparing for the talent show?
Lots of practice in our sax player Sean’s garage.
2. What has the experience been like thus far?
Very good, first time our band is doing a big gig like this so its a brand new expierence
3. What good luck charms or special rituals will you be bringing to the theater?
None, we don’t believe in that. We will just be prepared.
4. What’s the best advice you have received for the show?
To have fun because if we have fun, the crowd will also.
5. Who is coming to cheer for you?
All of our family and friends, hoping that they will all come in top hats!
6. What will you do with the victory money?
Split it among ourselves, not sure where it will exactly go, probably college money!
Laura Rondinella:
1. How have you been preparing for the talent show?
I’ve been preparing with Jasmin Serrano for about two months now. We’ve held a few rehearsals, where the two of us brainstorm and come up with different performance ideas, before putting it all together.
2. What has the experience been like thus far?
The experience has been great! I was very pleasantly surprised to see the high level of interest that Morristown has in the arts. The recognition that the local talent gets is wonderful.
3. What good luck charms or special rituals will you be bringing to the theater?
I carry around a coin that my mom gave me that says “follow your heart.”.It will be somewhere on my person during the performance, as it always is. I believe it keeps me focused on my dreams, which makes my performance stronger.
4. What’s the best advice you have received for the show?
Just be who you are and breathe.
5. Who is coming to cheer for you?
My beautiful family and my teeny girl.
6. What will you do with the victory money?
Pay off my college debt! 🙂
Carolina Alvarez
1. I have been working with my accompanist Skip Yingling. I had to change tempos from the CD recording I was using before to a now more slower tempo.
2. Splendid, everyone is really nice and easy to work with and the people in charge of MGT really care for all your needs, which makes you feel more easy about the process.
3. Ummm, I pray?
4. Just to not be nervous, and the room is going to be all black anyways so I don’t have to worry about seeing the audience.
5. My parents, my brother, my grandma from Poland, and my friends
6. Most of it would go to college and the small percentage left will go to by Christian Louboutin pumps.
Michael Pyo:
1. How have you been preparing for the talent show?
I have been practicing with my mommy every day, but she has been scheduling surprise practices so that I can get used to singing under pressure. My bedtime has been changed from 8:30 to 9:30 because I will be up later for the show.
2. What has the experience been like thus far?
I have been enjoying the time singing with my mommy. I have also been getting a lot of attention from people in the neighborhood and at school.
3. What good luck charms or special rituals will you be bringing to the theater?
I have a red, shiny crystal that is my good luck charm.
4. What’s the best advice you have received for the show?
Enjoy yourself, and have fun. Keep going if you make a mistake.
5. Who is coming to cheer for you?
My family, my friends, my neighbors and my teachers.
6. What will you do with the victory money?
I will donate money to different charities that help poor children in Africa and Haiti. I will give some of the money to my brother (who gave me some money when he won), and then I will put some money away for my college fund.
Captain Lung
1. We have been keeping up our normal practice routine of 1-2 practices a week.
2. The experience has been great, having people run up to you yelling “you’re in the show omg that’s awesome” gives you a really wonderful feeling.
3. We will be bringing an aboriginal rain dance to the show and doing it right before we go on to bring us luck.
4. No advice has been given.
5. All of our families and friends from the high school will be attending the event plus family friends.
6. The victory money will go into the band fund and help us pay for the making of an album.
Timeless Jazz:
1. We have been preparing for the talent show by practicing weekly. We have put in around 2-3 hours per week of rehearsal time.
2. So far, the experience has been great. We have worked hard to get to where we are now and we plan on pushing ahead to deliver a stellar performance.
3. We will not be bringing any good luck charms or rituals to the show.
4. The best advise we have received for the show would be to just go out there and have fun. We did that our first year, and we plan on doing it again.
5. Our “cheering section” will be comprised of our families and friends, young and old, and everybody else who enjoys listening to Timeless Jazz.
6. We would split the money equally amongst ourselves like we did the first year.
Hanna Neil:
1.) I have been preparing by singing for my friends and family, having my mom video tape me while singing, singing in front of the mirror, and also taking singing lessons!!
2.) The experience has been wonderful. Lots of my friends, including people at church, have come up to me regarding them getting tickets for the show, or just congratulating me. It’s really an honor to be part of this show.
3.) I am going to bring my Frankenstein Voodoo doll (which I bought in Texas), to the talent show.
4.) The best advice I have gotten in for the show is, “Make the song about you, not Adele herself.”
5.) My friends (of course), but also my dad’s clients, people from school, and adults from church are all coming to cheer me on… Even my teachers!!
6.) WHEN I win the victory money, I am going to buy myself some epic heels, and save the rest for college!!
COME BACK TO MORRISTOWN GREEN FOR COMPLETE SHOW COVERAGE!
MORE ABOUT MORRISTOWN’S GOT TALENT 2012
