On an annual basis, Park High School enjoys what they name, “Snow Week’’. This year’s Snow Week launched on Monday, March 22nd and lasted through Friday, March 26th. As per usual, the PHS Student Council assigned an overarching theme for these five days. A 2000s decade theme was announced. Students and staff partook in throwback social media challenges, a trivia night and multiple dress-up opportunities. The exhilaration did not end there, however. On Wednesday evening, a virtual talent show was posted. Declared as “inclusive” by the PHS Talent Show Committee Leader, the 2021 PHS Snow Week Talent Show consisted of magnificent vocal duets, impressive balisong flipping, and energetic dance routines.

Prior to that Wednesday, students at Park High School were encouraged to submit a video of themselves performing something that they were gifted at to a form. Those films were in turn published to parkwolfpack.org on Wednesday, March 24th. The community was able to watch and read about the acts on this date, as if it were a live showcase. The Journal witnessed the 2021 PHS Snow Week Talent Show and has compiled an account of the highlights.

Caleb Pimlott began the night with a short balisong flipping routine. Balisong flipping is a series of tricks and movements forced onto a butterfly knife by an artist’s hands. However, Pimlott did not use a butterfly knife in his video. Rather, he utilized a “trainer”, or a BaliYo Pen, that lacked sharp edges. During his presentation, Pimlott flaunted his quick-acting fingers.

Next, close friends, Macey Kaufenberg and Jamy Randrup performed a cover of “Grey” by the American boy band, Why Don’t We. Randrup played the instrumentals on her keyboard and sang the soprano part. Meanwhile, Kaufenberg caroled as the alto lead. In the description of their video, the girls revealed that they had been singing for six years. The 2021 PHS Snow Week Talent Show served as an opportunity for them to display their abiding passion. “We both love to perform musical theatre, and are always looking for a way to spread our music,” Randrup and Kaufenberg concluded.

OSU! is a video game that summons its players’ sense of rhythm. Bruce Lor excelled in the game mode of OSU!Standard, in his portion of the talent show. OSU!Standard is a simulator where one must complete the entire length of a song maintaining the beat. They keep the beat by clicking and sliding circles that appear on their device. Lor executed a prompt and accurate cursor movement and therefore, proved to have a gift at playing OSU!Standard.

Taylor Koenig and Aidan McMaster’s recording of “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars was another highlight of the evening. McMaster strummed an acoustic guitar as he sang the melody with Koenig. The musicians altered between singing in unison and in parts. Even so, their overall sound was pleasant and poised. McMaster and Koenig credited their involvement in PHS Choirs for their musical strengths.

Sophomore at PHS, Emma Reinhardt, claimed that she had been dancing for several years. This extensive experience was evident in her entry of the 2021 PHS Snow Week Talent Show where she put on an original tap combination. Reinhardt poured a high amount of energy into her performance, demonstrating her love for dance. She revealed, “I have been dancing since I was two years old and tap has always been a personal favorite.”

Like Reinhardt, Damien Vang entered Wednesday night’s talent show by dancing for the camera. His routine followed the beat and lyrics to a Billboard Global Chart-topper, “Dynamite” by BTS. Vang’s inspiration to participate in the 2021 PHS Snow Week Talent Show lay in his appreciation for listening to music.

Catrina Skoog filmed a cover of Jordin Sparks’ “Next To You” for Wednesday evening. Skoog creatively edited a graphic element of what appeared to be colorful stage lights into her video. Skoog’s marvelous singing enhanced by visuals appealed to the viewers’ senses.

There to wrap up the showcase was Yazan Shuaibi’s two-minute presentation of playing a rhythmically-challenging video game. Even though he had selected a difficult level, Shuaibi followed through the entire combination of Friday Night Funkin’ Whitty Mod LoFight flawlessly.

The 2021 PHS Snow Week Talent Show came to a close. Although it could not premiere live in the school’s auditorium, PHS Talent Show Committee Leader, Devin Schwartz, was pleased with the results of the evening. “I feel like overall it was a success and I’m glad we were able to find a way to still do a talent show even through these tough times,” he told The Journal, “I feel that with the talent show being virtual this year it may have slowed some talents that we’ve never seen before perform. I also feel that it gave a platform for people who may be a little shy to go in front of an audience the opportunity to film their talent and submit a video.”

Taylor Koenig and Aidan McMaster sang “Count On Me” in Wednesday night’s virtual showcase. Photo by Sadie Jones