Holy Name students tops in Talent Show

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

WORCESTER – Three seniors at Holy Name Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School placed first in the Catholic Schools Have Talent 2016 competition, held Nov. 18 at their school.
It was the fourth Adopt-A-Student Talent show, said Robert Pape, Adopt-A-Student steering committee president. He said the show was not held last year because of renovations in the space they use at Holy Name. This year the show was held in the school’s newly renovated Joseph P. Burke Center for the Performing Arts.
Proceeds from the show, expected to total about $5,500 after expenses, are for the Adopt-A-Student tuition assistance program.


Jack Herndon on the piano

Kilani Moore and Lloyd Gyimah sang “If I Ain’t Got You,” accompanied by Jack Herndon on the piano, to win first prize. The singers delighted the audience when they took the show off stage and down to the front seats. A write-up said the trio also performs at school events and “on the road.”


Lizzy Loomis

Lizzy Loomis, a senior at St. Peter-Marian Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School, placed second for her singing of “Gimmie, Gimmie.” The program said she has been doing musical theater since age 8, and hopes to major in it in college.
“The emotion of that song really came out,” judge Jen Carter of WXLO radio’s XLO Morning Show told her, praising her facial expressions.    Cameron Campbell, a Holy Name freshman, placed third for playing “New York State of Mind” on the piano.
“Billy Joel would be so proud,” Ms. Carter said, commenting on his performance of the composer’s piece. “I don’t know if everybody knows


Cameron Campbell, a Holy Name freshman.

how difficult it is” to play that, and so effortlessly.
The 15 finalists, each of whom was given a gift certificate, were chosen after competing in their schools’ talent shows, organizers said. Prize winners received additional gift certificates.
The other schools represented were St. Peter Central Catholic Elementary School in Worcester and St. Bernard’s Central Catholic High School in Fitchburg.
The other judges were Hank Stolz of WCRN radio’s morning news and Monica O’Connell, an adjunct professor of dance at Worcester State University. Cindy Dorsey, general manager of Emmanuel Radio was emcee.
William Driscoll, Adopt-A-Student steering committee member, and Stephen Kaufman, Adopt-A-Student volunteer, organized, directed and produced the show.
DVDs of it can be purchased by emailing requests to tvmass@charter.net.