Canton's Got Talent

The biggest names in the Canton Public School’s faculty of musical legends were on the big stage at the Auditorium on Friday night taking part in the annual C. The event raises funds for Canton Public Schools’ after-school music ensembles.

The nine acts, including the 2009 “All Around Favorite” winners, the Barber Shop Quartet, all put on stellar performances in front of a packed auditorium.  Fans from the Luce, Kennedy, Hansen, Galvin and High School represented their schools en masse. Cheers and applause of “Beetle-mania proportions” erupted for each act.  The suspense was high throughout the evening, as the judges and audience had no clue as to the nature of each act’s performance.  Kept top-secret, the performers competed to win the honors of “The Most Surprising,” “The Most Inspiring,” “The Most Creative” acts. 

The three esteemed judges of the event were , a Canton selectman, , a Canton Police detective and school officer and Jon Cattel, a 2009 CHS alum who was a member of the many musical ensembles as a youth. Ed Amico MC’d the event and had quite a group of followers himself among the crowd.

The talent show was organized in collaboration between the Canton Public Schools’ Performing Arts Department and , the non-profit organization and advocacy group whose fundraising events raise all of the money to support the Canton Public Schools’ after-school ensembles.

Susan Caplan, member of Music Counts, helped run one of the tables outside of the auditorium, where fans could send a “good luck message” to their favorite performers.

“It’s such a joyful event,” said Caplan. “To see the teachers up there, having fun…it sends the message that music is fun. Music brings people together.”

Cassandra Kelly was one such fan. Kelly said she was rooting for her sister, a member of the L-U-C-E Disco, who performed wearing a school bus costume. 

versatile musician and Performing Arts Coordinator for the Canton Public Schools, was not only a major collaborator with Music Counts, but was in several of the performances as a keyboardist, singer and guitarist. Collmer reported that this major fundraiser raised over $12,000 in 2009, when the event was last held.

One of the most spectacular aspects of Friday’s event was its inclusive atmosphere which brought all ages to the event.  Canton High School students were given a unique opportunity to share the spotlight in between the major bands. They took the opportunity to step up to the microphone and speak out to the younger school age children, sharing stories and advice about how music and the bands and ensembles in Canton have shaped their life in positive ways.

Kelechi Ugocha, a CHS student, said she was not terribly gifted in music but that attending the event really inspired her.

“Seeing other people play makes me happy,” she said.

Summarizing the musical performances is no easy task, as each musical act was totally unique.  First on the stage was the “Funky Faculty”, an eight-piece band complete with trombone, keys, drums and lead and background singers. They opened up the event with “Sing a Song” by Earth, Wind and Fire. 

Yan Yii, a fifth grade teacher from the performed next, with help from Moe Coyle of Everett Public Schools. Their rendition of “Ain't No Mountain High Enough” won the award of “Most Inspiring” from the judges.

Described by MC Amico as having "eight strings, two bows, 16 pegs and strawberry blonde hair,” the Lesser and Lesser String Duo played next. This husband and wife duo showcased a huge amount of talent as they bantered back and forth on the cello and violin. Mrs. Lesser is the Strings Specialist for the Elementary Schools.

Up next were the 2009 champs, “The Galvin Middle School Quartet.”  Consisting of teachers Mr. Russell, Mr. Lee-Clark, Mr. Bauer and special guest Crosby Goshgarian of the Canton Choral Society, this group serenaded the audience with a medley of popular, old fashioned Barbershop tunes. Wearing matching red suspenders, bow ties and hats, this group looked and sounded like they had been singing together for years.

In reality, said Mr. Bauer, “we got together about two weeks ago, picked out a few selections and practiced during our teacher prep time.”

The MC next invited the audience to “get boogieing on down” to the Disco, which stunned the audience with a 16-member ensemble who sang "It’s Fun to Learn at the L.U.C.E” to the tune of the famous YMCA song. Costumes included a School Bus, Star, Nurse, Police Officer, and Lunch Lady. Such canny lyrics included “We are getting a new playground, thanks to the best parents in town.”

This band took home the top honor of “All Around Favorite” thanks to the audience voters.

The JFK Xylos were up next, featuring the song “Abandon."  Six staff members each contributed a melody that came from their six huge xylophones. It was a very unique and coordinated performance. There were several members of the audience who were unhappy that the Xylos didn’t take home a prize for their performance.

“I wanted the Xylos to win”, said six-year-old Will Simmonds.

A smaller performance called “For Dancers Only” took place next.  This jazz tune had some members of the audience unable to resist the urge to dance.

The Hansen Drummers then took the stage, dressed in African attire. Using a djembe drum, keyboard, rainstick and shaker, this band rocked the house with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”  The Hansen Drummers took home a prize for “Most Creative” at the end of the night.

Finally, the “60s Rock Surprise” began with a folktale sung by Mr. , Principal of the Galvin Middle School. Three other guitarists joined in. “Charlie on the MTA” was a smash-hit with the audience who sang along. It wasn’t until the song was over that one of the biggest surprises of the night took place. Mr. LaLiberte was told to stick around on the stage. A quick cast change took place, and two “hippies” from the Galvin, Nancy and John, played Mr. LaLiberte a “tweaked version” of John Denver’s “Leavin’ On A Jet Plane." It was remastered as “Leavin’ Galvin Middle” and the entire audience was soon singing along to this rather touching and sentimental tribute to Mr. LaLiberte’s 39 years as a teacher and principal.  He is retiring in June. This tribute band took home the award for “Most Surprising” according to the judges.  It was a surprise for the principal as well.

For all of those who attended “Canton’s Got Talent,” it was a night to remember. For those who were not able to attend, it is not too late to contribute to the Music Counts Program, which directly supports general music education for all students in Canton as well as its after-school and special event programming.  More information about becoming a member can be found at www.MusicCounts.org.