Unveiling talent

The countdown to the much-awaited finals of the Talent Search contest has begun. After the successful completion of the two semi-final rounds in Kandy and Colombo respectively, the best of the best have been picked to showcase their talents at the finals next week.

In accordance with its vision of creating an opportunity for talent to unveil itself, the finalists of the various categories and groups are in a bid to provide audiences with an electrifying performance.

Talent Search is not just any show put on for the sake of entertainment. Rather, it is a platform that serves as a stepping stone for the youth of the country to further and develop their talents.

With this goal of developing and nurturing talent in the youth of Sri Lanka, the aim was to make Talent Search into a project that is second to none, one that will be talked of for months or even for years as the show that produced a multitude of great people in the field of arts. The show will no doubt boost the talent of its participants and give the audience a show to remember.

The objectives of the contest are to develop the musical talents of the youth in Sri Lanka and to provide them with an opportunity to display their talents in the fields of music and dance, while fostering harmony and co-existence among the multi-ethnic communities in the country, and to provide financial stability to the club to organize future community service projects.

Sri Lanka being a goldmine of talent provides an ideal forum where all interactors and non-interactors islandwide participate and display their hidden talent, which has not yet been explored.

The increasing number of participants over the past years have proved the need for such an event for youth in a developing country such as Sri Lanka, unlike in developed countries where children get such an opportunity early on, and hence develop professionally at a much younger age. Talent Search which was initiated by the Interact Club of Royal College, has been an annual project for the past eleven years.

The Interact Clubs of Visakha Vidyalaya, St. Bridget's Convent and Muslim Ladies' College have been a part of this project throughout the years. The year 2001 saw the participation of non-interactors for the first time. This development has undoubtedly given the necessary opportunity and encouragement to students of schools without Interact Clubs to display their talent at such a prominent event.

Talent Search has now become the most popular talent competition among the Sri Lankan youth population.

The finalists for Talent Search 2006 are as follows- Western Dancing: St.Anthony's College, Katugastota, Colombo International School and Visakha Vidyalaya; Eastern Dancing: Gateway International School, Kandy, Good Shephard Convent, Kandy and Lyceum International School; Solo Singing: Sanka Bopatharachchi of Lyceum International School, Thyaga Senanayake of Lyceum International School and Nevandika Dassanayake of Visakha Vidyalaya; Group Singing: Lyceum International School, Visakha Vidyalaya, and Haritha; Band: Inferno, Freaks on Ice and Quarter Mile; and the winners of the Rap and Instrumental categories have already been decided, namely, G-squad and Mahanama College respectively. Both groups will be performing on the night of the finals.

The finals will be held on October 26 at the BMICH from 6 pm onwards. Tickets will be available at the Royal College Union and priced at Rs. 300/= and Rs. 350/=. The Print Media Sponsors for the event is The Sunday Times, Electronic Media Sponsors are Channel One MTV and Y FM, official Soft drink - Elephant Cream Soda and organized by the Interact Club of Royal College.