Building Community Through Music: CHC Fall Talent Showcase 2023
By Xavier Aparicio
Content
Photos by Myles Braxton and Theo Nims
On Saturday, October 14, Commonwealth Honors College presented the Fall Talent Showcase, formerly known as the Honors Talent Festival — in which students in the Honors community, and UMass Amherst at large, can share their musical talent. Hosted in the Concourse of the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community (CHCRC), the event featured a myriad of performances — from a cappella groups, to bands, to singer-songwriters.
Fall Treats and Crafts
Over 250 people attended the showcase throughout the afternoon, enjoying fall-themed snacks such as cider donuts, candy apples, hot cider, and more. Perhaps drawn out of their dorms by the great music and scent of fall food, the Honors community came out in full force together.
Many students also participated in pumpkin painting and other fall-related crafts were also offered nearby, right outside Roots Café.
Family, Community, & Expression
A significant portion of the audience were parents of students that were performing at the showcase. This was no coincidence - as the event was also intentionally made to fall on UMass Family Weekend.
This fact has not gone unappreciated by students’ parents: “I always love seeing my daughter perform, I’m very glad they [CHC] put this together for us”, a parent said.
While offering a chance for students’ families to glimpse into what is the Honors community, the showcase also granted students the opportunity to perform in a live, yet low-stakes environment: “Performing live is always a rush, but I didn’t feel too pressured or nervous here,” one student singer said.
The showcase also granted new and emerging musical groups to perform live together and get their name out by sharing their social media platforms. One student performer said, “We only really started playing together this semester, so I’m happy that we came here to play for everyone.”
My Thoughts
Personally, I was thoroughly impressed by the musical talent that the Honors community presented at the showcase. I have been in singing groups - such as choirs and a cappella groups - since I was very young, and I can definitely say the student groups knocked it out of the park.
One a cappella group, the Doo Wop Shop, reminded me of my own a cappella group in high school. Wearing dress shirts with rolled up sleeves and variously colored ties, as well as conducting synchronized choreography, the group amazed the crowd — and brought a lot of nostalgia to me.
Overall, the event was a great success as over eight groups or individuals performed over the course of the two-hour showcase.
Be on the lookout for more Honors community events, such as the upcoming 2023 Daffodil Planting. Come decorate the CHCRC and plant daffodils that will grow in the spring semester, while celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the residential area with good food!