Forest Hills students got quite a show with their lunches.
Over their Wednesday and Thursday lunch periods, students watched 31 acts of their peers performing. While they had strawberries, classmates sang. While they ate Ding Dongs, peers danced.
Eating their lunches on the gym floor, students watched and cheered as peers strutted their stuff in the school’s annual talent show held Feb. 25 and 26.
The second day’s show ran so smoothly, courtesy of show coordinators Lucian Blaga and Elizabeth Russell-Jones, that the event finished a few minutes early, leading to a school-wide dance of “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars.
“It is such a great opportunity for our students to shine,” said Principal Debra Farrell, after busting a move herself during “Uptown Funk. “I am always amazed at their talents. Every year, I see students doing things I didn’t expect from them.”
Farrell said the event is held over lunch hours to enable more students to be a part of the action.
“They are in so many after-school activities,” she said.
One of the crowd favorites was Aiden Hincks, a student in the La Grange Area Department of Special Education class at Forest Hills. He sang an a cappella version of Elton John’s “Your Song,” which brought a thunderous ovation from the students.
It was the fourth year Aiden has performed in the show, the last two years choosing a solo act. Last year, the 11-year-old sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“He is amazing,” his mom, Jacki, said after the show. “I was not able to perform in front of people when I was his age.”
Aiden picked up the Elton John song after hearing it on a Disney show, his mom said. He memorized the lyrics and began singing it for family and friends. Jacki suggested he sing it in the school’s show.
“Aiden has been successful,” Jacki said. “Programs like this show his confidence.”
Mia Scavuzzo, evening custodian at the school, was the show’s emcee and had students roaring with her accessories, which included a pink crown when introducing fourth-grader Emre Ersahin’s piano performance of “The Queen’s Royal Entry,” and paper shamrock earrings when introducing fourth-grader Maggie Pabst’s Irish dance performance.
Blaga has been coordinating the show for the past five years
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“I will have to have an apprentice for next year,” Blaga said.
His son, Christopher, who performed “Turn Balalaika” and “Taste of Honey” on the piano during the show, will move on to McClure Junior High.