In a daring display of musical skill and creativity, freshman Santiago Roig wowed the crowd at this year’s talent show with his performance, “Sin Ojos,” or “Without Eyes.” His remarkable act not only earned him first place but showcased his dedication and passion for music.

Roig began drumming six years ago, driven by an innate desire to create music. When asked what inspired him to start, he candidly admitted that he didn’t know. Nevertheless, his commitment is clear– he practices every day for one to two hours, a routine that reflects his determination to hone his craft. Balancing schoolwork and drumming is no easy feat, yet for him, the thrill he gets from drumming outweighs the struggles.

When discussing the feeling of performing live, Roig shared, “When you’re on stage, you’re just yourself and you’re just existing in that moment.” In those exhilarating moments on stage, he immerses himself in the music, allowing his worries to fade away. 

“Every problem you’ve ever had… it doesn’t matter in that time. And honestly, that’s why I do it, it’s for those times where nothing matters.

Roig’s winning performance in the talent show was born out of a desire to claim the top spot after placing second and third in previous years. He explained that he improvised the entire solo, “I just closed my eyes, put on that blindfold, and just played.” The improvisation was a testament to his skill and confidence, which he attributes to muscle memory– “You just know what you’re doing at some point, so it’s like, you can do anything blindfolded.”

“Sin Ojos” tied for first place alongside dancer Lia Lanz. Angeline Gonzalez, the Assistant Head of Middle School and one of the judges of the talent show, revealed that both first-place acts received a perfect score out of four categories; execution, appearance, technical ability, and stage presence. Second place went to two acts: a performance of Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj’s “Beauty and the Beat,” performed by seniors Emily Gil, Bianca Maresma, Francesca Marsema, Maria Liceaga, and Isaiah Ridgeway, and freshman dancer Khloe Llanos. Third place went to junior Winston Grant’s self-written piano piece.

The talent show is one of the many ways students can earn spirit points for their grade to win Spirit Week. As a result, students actively participate and create their individual entries. In total there were a variety of acts ranging from dance and music to puppeteering and tumbling.