There's No Talent Hunt Like Gamma Pi's Talent Hunt

Overall winner Kenji Yokote

Where else can you see or hear a cello player, classical dancers, sparkling vocalists, various instrumentalists, and stunning samples of breathtaking artwork? Only at Gamma Pi Chapter’s Annual Omega Talent Hunt program. And this year, as usual, the young people participating in the show brought the house down with some scintillating performances and art presentations on Saturday afternoon, March 9, at Charles Flowers High School in Springdale, MD. 

She's got real talent

In a span of three hours 19 students representing five local schools entertained and demonstrated why in Prince George’s County, “we’ve got talent.” All were high school students from grades 9-12. For their families and other observers, it was an uplifting and emotional time as they saw the outcome from many hours of grueling work and dedication the students put in over the months practicing and honing their skills, getting ready for the big day. The final participants were selected from tryouts in February.

While all the participants received trophies, the overall winner was Kenji Yokote, an 11th grader from Georgetown Day School who skillfully played the selection, “Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor,” on his attention-grabbing cello, which was clearly the largest handheld instrument in the show. He had an accompanist. Honors were also given to winners in the various categories: dance, vocals, instrumental classical and art. As the overall winner, Yokote will represent Gamma Pi Chapter in the 2024 Second District Talent Hunt competition that will be held April 25-28 during the 76th Second District meeting at Valley Forge, PA.

Voice of a star

“We have such a great collection of talented students here in Prince George’s County,” said Bro. William Lloyd, who is Gamma Pi’s Talent Hunt chairman. “Every year the students get better and better, and they never cease to amaze me. I believe this was one of the best shows we have had in years.”

Category winners were as follows: Ibukun Akinterinwa (Art), Kendyll Melton (Vocal), Angel Obidike (Dance), Jordan Javon (Piano Classical), Elijah Aluko (Piano Jazz), Joseph Bayote (Instrumental Classical). Cash prizes amounted to $300 for category winners, $200 for second place and $300 for third place.

One of the offbeat highlights of the occasion was the entertaining comic relief provided by Bro. George Montgomery, who served as emcee. Bro. Montgomery kept the crowd loose with his karaoke-style singing and “name that tune” back-and-forth in between the breaks. Each time, he took the audience down memory lane with a different decade in R&B music, including the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and into the 2000s. Bro. Montgomery, like the students, received a rousing round of applause at the end.

This year’s Talent Hunt marked the second consecutive year the program has returned to in-person status after three years of video on-demand during the pandemic.

Photos by Bro. George DuBose

Bro. Basileus Eric Fields

Bro. William Lloyd, Chairman

Bro. George Montgomery, Emcee