A Matilda medley tops off top night
A night of ‘stunning’ performances took place at a Maidenhead Rotary talent show last week.
From dancing and choirs to opera and rock bands, young performers put their best foot forward at the annual Maidenhead’s Got Talent showcase on Friday, March 8.
The charity event at Taplow Court was organised by Maidenhead’s Rotary clubs and featured 150 performers.
Event organiser and president of Maidenhead Thames Rotary Mark Loader said: “This year’s show certainly showed there’s lots of talent in Maidenhead and it’s something we should be proud of. The performers outshone themselves and did an amazing job.
“We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who came to support the youngsters, to all the performers and all our amazing Rotary Volunteers who make the show possible.
“We’re still adding up all the donations, but the event will have raised £4,500 to support three amazing local charities. So, a massive thank you from us.”
Among the performers were students from Izzy Cooper, St Paul’s CE Combined School, Claires Court, Dance Inspired, Redroofs Theatre School, Angela Terrey School of Dance, Larchfield Primary School, St Edmund Campion Catholic Primary School, Newlands Girls School and the Kalakunj Performing Arts Group.
First-time performers included Claires Court School pupil Ben Coghlan, who performed the piano piece If I am With You, an operatic duet by Izzy Cooper students Ursula Downes and Disha Umapathi, who performed Mozart’s Una Donna Quindici Anni (Cosi
Fan Tutte), and Bella Hislop from Claires Court School who performed a rendition of The Climb.
Other performances included young rockers from Larchfield Primary School who performed Life is a Highway and an Indian classical Bharatanatyam dance performance from the Kalakunj Performing Arts Group. Redroofs Theatre School then closed the show with a Matilda medley.
Royal Borough deputy mayor Councillor Simon Bond was amongst the special guests and said: “The performances were to a high standard, energetic and disciplined. A lot
of hard work went into preparing the event.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, there were clearly a lot of proud parents in the audience.”
The community event, which is sponsored by the Louis Baylis Charitable Trust, is in support of Thames Hospice, Thames Valley Adventure Playground and the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice.
President of Maidenhead Bridge Rotary James
Ticehurst said: “Rotary is well-known for raising funds for many local and international charities, but perhaps it is less well known for the amount of hands-on community work we do.
“This concert is a demonstration of our commitment as Rotarians to improve our local community and encourage the local youth to strive for their goals.”
Rotary in Maidenhead thanked the SGI – UK Buddhist in Taplow Court for the use of their concert hall.