CHS junior Karleigh Pawlyszyn is something of a talent show veteran, and she has the hardware to prove it. Last Saturday, April 12, was the Duneland Exchange Club’s annual talent show, but it was far from her first rodeo.
“I did it my freshman year and have done it every year since,” Pawlyszyn said. “It’s really fun, and I’m planning on doing it next year too.”
Pawlyszyn, a junior, has been involved in the Sandpipers, Chesterton’s nationally recognized show choir program for all three years of high school. She prepared her talent show entry song, “Fly Fly Away,” early in the season.
“I sang this song for solo competition at show choir competitions, so it started really early in the school year. That’s when I started perfecting it,” she explained. “My voice teacher gave a bunch of suggestions…and I picked this one.”
The process of selecting a solo song is no simple task. Pawlyszyn had to consider her skill level, preferences, vocal range, and anticipated judge reception. But the most important criteria? According to Pawlyszyn, the difficulty level.
“It’s a really nice song, and it was a challenge for me. Voices change, and you learn so many new things when you take lessons, so I wanted a challenge and to see how well I can do with it,” she said.
The talent show was on Saturday April 12, but the talent show contestants dedicated their Friday afternoons to it, too. For Pawlyszyn, it was the best part of the weekend.
“I really enjoyed dress rehearsal,” she said. “I got there on time, and we were so far behind, so I got to watch everyone. That was really cool for me.”
Some highlights of the show were a group of second-grade hip-hoppers in neon track suits and a pair of kindergarteners with a stand-up comedy act who called themselves “Guys in Ties.” After the dress rehearsal, the real show was a-go.
“I was a little nervous, because there were only five high schoolers,” Pawlyszyn said. “Other than that, I was fine…The microphones there were really nice. There was a lot of resonance in the room and it felt like a really good performance. I don’t know what they did, but it was good.”
Pawlyszyn was competing in a small group of students, but definitely had some competition. Also entered in the talent show were seniors Damion Lopez and Christian Uzelac in their band Beelzebub performing “Untitled Song #3,” junior Sophia Sylvester singing “Que Sera Sera,” Anna Holmes performing her original composition “All the Lost Melodies,” and the band 9 Months Later (Beck Brandstetter, Dane Cooper, Ryan Kasper, Michael Shumate) performing “New Friends.”
Even though her performance felt good, Pawlyszyn remained insecure about her final placement, all the way up until her name was called at the awards ceremony.
“I was really worried. Backstage, my friend was back there with me, and she was like ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen, but you’re okay, it’s all going to work out.’ And when they announced 3rd and 2nd…I thought I was going to get 3rd.
Though the win was unexpected for Pawlyszyn, it wasn’t for most of the crowd. Pawlyszyn received a medal and a check for $100. What to do with a check like that? Save it, according to Pawlyszyn.
“I’m going into college soon, though, so I’m trying to save money,” she said.
Pawlyszyn wants to study commercial music in college, which includes training in songwriting, performance, sound engineering, and arrangement. The major can siphon into a singer/songwriter career or music management. Regardless of her future career, one thing is for certain: Pawlyszyn isn’t done with talent shows.
