Music dominates Wednesday night’s talent show

By Taryn Northrup and Anna Eggers

As the curtains began to close, excitement grew. A wave of energy and eagerness overtook Aalfs Auditorium.

Yimeng Gao “Ming’s” piano solo silenced the crowd to kick off the South Dakota Girls State Talent Show, setting the bar for the rest of the participants. The sound of a cameras shutter was the only noise from the audience as it quickly captured her fingers dancing across the keys.

Next to perform was Alora Huffman, who stole the show before beginning her solo with her glimmering black and gold flute. The solo, “Human,” by Christina Perri, sparked even more interest from the already enticed audience as she seamlessly conveyed her performance to the crowd. Shaking after her act, Kauffman said she plays six different instruments.

Maren Buffington’s poem followed. Interested and intrigued eyes were locked as she dramatized the poem through her actions and emotions. Buffington after the act said she takes part in oral interp and feels she “can relate to it.”

Hanna McClelland’s bubbly attitude while singing and playing guitar to “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons, fueled the audience to start clapping along during the chorus of the song.

The announcement of an Italian vocal solo by Casside Goergen provoked immediate excitement from delegates, counselors and auxiliary members. Once she began, looks of awe took over the faces of the observers in the auditorium.

Roars of cheer and chatter began to circulate once it was made known that delegates would next witness hip-hop dancer Amanda Finnegan. With every move of the routine, encouraging whoops and hollers were shouted.

Miss South Dakota, Autumn Simunek, ended the talent performances with an operatic solo that seemingly transported the audience to a French pavilion. Whispers about Simunek’s range radiated throughout the auditorium as her solo came to an end.