Creativity, Courage, and the Diverse "Talon't": Colonial Forge's Annual Student Talent Show
Colonial Forge High School’s auditorium was electric on Thursday, March 19th, as students gathered for the highly anticipated Talon’t Show, an annual celebration of creativity, courage, and the diverse talents of our Eagles. From soulful melodies to energetic band performances, every act radiated passion and personality. The event, hosted by the spirited duo Lindsay Lee and Jackson Goodlet, kept the crowd buzzing with excitement and laughter from start to finish.
This year’s winners reflected the heart of the Forge music scene—a mixture of authenticity, teamwork, and a love for performance. First place went to junior Giovanni Amaya, known by his artist name Gova Amaya, and senior Adella Winn, who performed an original song of Amaya’s called “Since You Left.” Their emotionally charged duet held the crowd in quiet awe as phone lights swayed across the auditorium in rhythm to the song.
“I played an original song called ‘Since You Left’ with Adella Winn,” Gio shared. “Me and Adella practiced a lot beforehand, and I personally mentally prepared to be on stage. At first, it was a little scary, but once I saw people holding up their phone lights, the nerves quickly went away.” The moment wasn’t just about performing—it was transformative.
“My favorite part was playing on the stage because I realized I have a true purpose and love for it,” Gio said. His heartfelt performance, along with Adella’s talented playing, earned them the top spot and admiration from peers who witnessed their musical passion shine under the stage lights.
Second place went to “The Triple Dippers,” a band made up of seniors Marc Angelo Daganzo, Rax Jumadiao, and JJ Shellington, whose lively mashup of popular hits—including songs by Bruno Mars, Leon Thomas, Dominic Fike, and Malcolm Todd— had the audience singing along. Each member brought a unique energy to the performance: Rax on drums, JJ on the bass, and Marc on vocals and guitar.
For Marc, the Talon’t Show was far more than a competition—it was a celebration of friendship. “Preparing for the talent show was always a good time,” he said. “Our rehearsals weren’t just dedicated time to practice, but it was a time we got to spend together. Due to jobs and school, our schedules were often packed and rarely lined up together. Whenever they would line up, it was time we got to spend together, not just as a band but as a group of friends.” Marc stated, recalling the late-night Wawa runs and spontaneous decision to name their band “The Triple Dippers” after spotting a Chili’s ad during rehearsal.
Although Marc admitted the band’s performance wasn’t flawless—“One of us missed our count within the first five seconds of the performance, we forgot to turn on our snare drum, and I consistently messed up chords, played off beat, or just didn’t play at all”—he described how the music eventually took over. “The music fully swallows you and solely puts you in the moment. Time flew by,” he recalled, “all of our mistakes and thoughts were drowned out by the roaring cheering from the crowd.” That connection with the audience solidified his love for performing.
Marc also highlighted the behind-the-scenes team (made up of CFHS’s Student Council Association, Class Office, and Performance Arts’ Student Volunteers), calling them "diligent,” “generous,” and “incredibly skilled.” He emphasized that the unseen effort backstage made the show “such a delicate experience.”
Third place went to junior James Sites, who performed Green Day’s “Time of Your Life” with skill and emotion—a fitting title for a night that was truly the time of their lives.
As the curtains closed, one thing became clear: Colonial Forge’s Eagles don’t just perform for applause, but they perform for the joy of expressing who they are. Whether it’s an original ballad or a band jam session, the Talon’t Show proved that spirit, creativity, and friendship help to make Forge’s community soar.
