How the stars shone: Talent Quest 2026
Avondale College's stadium was a hive of excitement on Tuesday night as students took to the stage for the annual Talent Quest, showcasing an impressive mix of singing, dancing and entertainment.
The biggest winners of the night were Bleacher Squad, who took home first place with an energetic, large-scale dance performance that captivated the audience from start to finish. The group, made up of friends often found hanging out at the college bleachers, packed the stage with dancers moving on and off throughout the routine.
Their victory was even more remarkable considering the group only auditioned at the last minute.
"We persevered, we used our HEART values and it shows you tenacity brings you to where you want to be," shared Sanvi Bhardwaj, just moments after winning.
For Mana Keefe, hearing the result announced was a moment she will never forget.
"I'm so proud of every one of us. We got first place with all our girls in our Year 13 year."
The group's choreography came together astonishingly quickly.
"We came up with the choreography in two hours," she said. "It was a mix of stuff from movies and our imagination, and it worked out."
Judge Allegra D'Souza, a former Avondale College Head Girl, said the group's ability to command the stage made them impossible to ignore.
"They filled the space and used everyone really well. Such stage presence and great group work, it was off the charts. We felt they deserved it and the crowd loved them as well."
Finishing in second place was Sheneth Fernando, whose animated rendition of Part of Your World from Disney's The Little Mermaid captivated both judges and audience members alike.
The song has been Sheneth's favourite Disney tune for years and reflects themes of curiosity and striving that resonate deeply with him. Having arrived in New Zealand from Sri Lanka just eight months ago, he has thrown himself into every opportunity available at Avondale College, embracing school life with enthusiasm.
His performance impressed the judging panel not only for its vocal quality, but also for the way he brought the character and story to life on stage.
"Sheneth combined acting and singing in a very musical-esque way," said Allegra. "He's got a really good range. After he performed, we looked at each other and thought, 'That is a fantastic performance.'"
Third place went to solo vocalist Giann, whose ambitious song choice and polished delivery earned high praise from the judges.
"It's a song I really enjoy and I figured if I entered the Talent Quest, I'd have to take some sort of risk to make it deep into the competition," Giann said.
The risk paid off.
"I couldn't believe it when they called my name. I was genuinely surprised and my heart jumped."
Allegra said Giann's performance stood out immediately.
"Giann sang with vibrancy and colour. We just watched him and were mind-blown. The song choice was really nice, we loved how it showed off his voice in all the right ways."
The other acts were all brilliantly entertaining in their own right: the jazz combo Swing 46 brought a nautical theme to their performance; while the Uhila sisters and Maia Phillip had the audience singing along with an ABBA medley. Gideon Vaopunimatagi embraced his inner cowboy with a country ballad; Tacos on Tuesday played a dark and gritty bass duet; the L and B from LGBT played heavy metal; with guitarist Lex doing an additional solo act. Tung Tung Talent brought plenty of fun to the stage with It's Tricky; and Coconut Wada sang in beautiful harmony.
The evening was made possible by a dedicated judging panel consisting of former Head Girl Allegra D'Souza, Devonte, Edy and HALES, who faced the difficult task of selecting winners from a field packed with talent. While they deliberated, the Staff act saw a performing of a techno club track on the recorder, making way for a more serious performance made up of talented instrumentalists. The prefects act was delightfully rambunctious as always, with a cheerleader influenced dance set to a number of crowd-pleasing tracks.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Talent Quest 2026 such a memorable night!
