While the chill of winter settled over Cold Spring, 17 Haldane students heated the stage during the Middle School Talent Show. On December 19, 2025, the performers expressed an array of their inner talent and showcased something other than their grades.

The talent show is an annual Haldane Middle School event run by the student council. “We want to embrace everybody’s talents,” stated sixth grader and student council member Winter Steltz. To add on, Eve Penski, also a sixth-grade student council member, noted, “We want to promote confidence and talent in everyone.” Eighth-grade student council members Luna Stracci and Parker Fyfe emceed 13 acts of the show.

The talent show featured a wide variety of acts. Bram McKay (8), Alex Ostrow (7), Penski, Beatrice Alayon (6), and Esme Lee (6) all sang at the talent show, performing songs from “Lover Girl” by Laufey to “Let It Go” by Idina Menzel. Isla Hudson (8) and Ysabella Jung (8) sang and played guitar to “Space Oddity” by David Bowie. Not only did participants of the show sing, but they also performed other interesting acts. Emma Elias (8) played “Master of Puppets” by Metallica on electric guitar, Maxson Skank (6) beatboxed, and Dominic Wake (6) and Dean Webb (7) played the piano in separate acts. Savannah Perez (6), Alice Bunye (6), Claudette Coelius (6), Josephine Moyer (6), Elizabeth Sexton (6), and Adriana Peparo (6) all performed dance pieces.

The viewers and participants of the talent show said they found the acts delightful. “I think the show flowed really well, and everyone who was in it had the perfect talent for it,” stated Coelius. The talent show is becoming a tradition for Haldane Middle School students and teachers. Tom Virgadamo, organizer of the student council and sixth-grade math teacher, said, “The talent show was truly fascinating! It was wonderful to see everyone show off their incredible talents.” Stracci noted, “In the end, I think that it turned out to be exciting and a success.”