Ephrata Middle School students show off their talents
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald The Ephrata High School dance team showed off their moves at the annual Ephrata Middle School talent show Friday.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald Emma Buchmann shows her skills at the piano to all of Ephrata Middle School at the annual talent show Friday.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald The sound of Mr. Ross (Ephrata Middle School instructor Aaron Ross) trying to sing provokes a lot of reaction from EMS students at Friday’s annual talent show.
EPHRATA — About 20 Ephrata Middle School students shared their musical and comedy skills with the whole school at the annual all-school talent show Friday.
Being in the talent show requires walking out in the middle of the gym and performing, sometimes with just a microphone. “It takes a lot of courage in middle school,” said Leslie Tinnell, EMS health and fitness instructor and talent show coordinator.
The EHS students rewarded the performers with lots of clapping and cheering after every performance, and a little stomping in time to the music when the music required a little help.
Emma Buchmann and Tiffany Alexander showed off their skills at the piano. Jordan Clark played piano and sang.
Ella and Emma Smiddy each sang solos, accompanied by Page Long on vocals and the ukulele. Ruth Valle sang and accompanied herself on guitar.
Kelly Everett, Shayla Moore, Emma Davis, Emma Coats and Kara Maryott all performed solos. There was even a self-described “boy band.” The music didn’t always cooperate – the tech crew had to rush around and restate the music a couple of times – but the performers took it in stride.
The middle school ASB threw in a couple of skits, including their own riff on the popular singing talent show “The Voice.” The judges fought over the chance to coach Mr. Ross (EMS instructor Aaron Ross) whose rendition of the Canadian national anthem – well, Mr. Ross could probably use the coaching.
The talent show is one of those school traditions that’s been around so long nobody knows how long it’s been around. Tinnell inquired of another teacher, who just shrugged – it dated back at least to the beginning of his 15 years at EMS. “I think we’ve done it, off and on, for the 33 years I’ve been here,” Tinnell said, and possibly longer than that.
It’s been a fixture of the last day before spring break for at least 20 years, she said. “A good way to finish off winter quarter.”
The Ephrata High School dance team kicked off the talent show with a dance number, and announced a mini-camp and tryouts for incoming freshmen who are interested in trying out for the 2017-18 school year.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.