Interviews with our Talent Quest winners
- Avcol
- Jul 24
- 5 min read
The 2025 Talent Quest showcased an incredible range of performances, including soloists, bands, and even a traditional siva afi dance - that had the crowd entertained from start to finish.
Judging such variety wasn’t easy - thankfully our panel featured some seriously impressive talent: Avondale College alumnus Kiahan Simons-Tipau, a dancer and recording artist; alumna Tinei Matafai-Leniu, an award-winning vocalist; and Aaron Strickland, a Grammy Award-winning music producer. While they deliberated, the crowds were treated to the annual Teachers VS Prefects dance-off - with the prefects coming out tops for their Pitch Perfect inspired routine.
We caught up with the winners - the rock band "Blue Nurse", guitarist Ollie Carson who came second thanks to his self-penned song S.O.S, and Deevah Eti and Zuri Delgado of the dance troupe "African Fusion."
1st Place - "Blue Nurse"
How did you come together as a band?
Ollie: We met through Jazz Academy a couple of years ago. We used to jam to some rock and metal songs while everyone packed up before the bell, and it led to me asking if they wanted to play some covers together. From there it grew into a proper band.
Where did the name "Blue Nurse" come from?
Andrew: We went through a few iterations of the band name before I suggested this one, which we all liked. The Blue Nurse is an urban legend [originating from when the school was a war hospital] about a lady ghost haunting the corridors of Avondale.
Felix: It's cool having a name that's rocky and also links to Avcol.
How did you prepare for Talent Quest?
Ollie: A lot of practices at my house during the holidays and in G block at lunchtime. It definitely took a lot of practice, but we also have a really natural rapport as a band, so stuff does seem to come together fairly easily for us.
Felix: Yes, lots of practices while also making sure we didn't bother the neighbours!
What do you appreciate about one another, musically speaking?
Alex: Ollie's incredibly talented, really passionate and puts so much effort in.
Ollie: One thing I would say about Andrew is that he is very selfless and willing to step in when he is needed. We couldn't find a vocalist back at the beginning of the band, so he stepped up and learnt how to sing for us, which essentially enabled the band to exist!
Felix: Alex is a great drummer, very adaptable and we have a natural, very instinctive way of communicating while playing.
Andrew: What I appreciate about Felix is that he's a really innovative person, he is a talented arranger and musician, and I take a lot of inspiration from him.
How did it feel when the judges announced you as the winners?
Alex: It was such a surprise that it took us awhile to realise that we had actually won.
Ollie: I was shocked, not because I thought we didn't deserve it, but because the standard of the other acts was so high, and they all deserved to place in my opinion.
Andrew: It was surreal. All our hard work had paid off. It made me proud of these guys and myself. We're still buzzing from it!
2nd - Ollie Carson
Can you tell us about the inspiration for 'S.O.S'?
Ollie: It was written in the second week of the holidays, with Talent Quest in mind. It was inspired by the late 80s/early 90s heavy thrash sound, also blending in some more modern metal elements. I have done Talent Quest every year I have been at Avcol, but had yet to place until this year, so I was throwing everything at it and give a killer performance, that way I would have the best shot possible.
How did it feel to achieve not one but two placings at Talent Quest?
Ollie: Just amazing. It is my goal to bring rock and metal back to the mainstream, so things like this really mean a lot to me. However, the main reason I do what I do will always be because I love doing it. Music is something I am really passionate about, and that is what drives me to write these songs and get up there and perform them. It makes me really happy. To me, there is nothing else like it.
Finally: the question on everyone's mind: how do you perform so well underneath all that hair?!
Ollie: Ha! Lots and lots of practice. I'm sure the hair helps a lot with my stage presence!
3rd - African Fusion Dance
What were practices like leading up to the performance?
Zuri: Honestly, they were pretty tiring! But we pushed ourselves because we wanted to deliver something polished and powerful. We originally put the dance together for the National Dance Comp (NDC), so thought we might as well enter Talent Quest as well. Making it to the finals was unexpected. Once that happened, we added in some unique movements to really level it up.
How would you define the African Fusion genre of dance?
Deevah: I would say it's a confidence builder! At the beginning, we were all so shy, like turtles in our shells, but over time our confidence built and we were able to show sides of ourselves that no one gets to see.
Zuri: It’s poppy, groovy, vibey—it just hits different. I only started it this term, but I really love it. You get to embody a powerful character full of strength and fury. It brings this bold energy that people really respond to. Everyone was talking about it afterwards, which felt amazing.
Your group is entirely student-led. How’s that worked out?
Deevah: Being the choreographer in particular was really challenging because I ended up doing the routine over and over - and over - but the upside is you get to let your creativity flow and the only thing stopping you is yourself. The prize that you get for being a leader is being able to see your own creativity be shown to a crowd on stage.
Zuri: For me it's one of the coolest parts of this experience. Deevah is honestly the best. She knows how to motivate us and handle all our personalities, and she's gracious when we make a mistake.
What’s the group energy like backstage?
Zuri: So fun! I’m probably the most extroverted, so I bring a lot of the hype. We just vibe off each other, and that connection shows when we perform.
How have you all responded to your placing?
Deevah: Honestly, we were shocked! Not because we placed but because I thought there were some really good performances that night! I know that me and the girls are proud of ourselves. It was such a fun experience!
Zuri, would you like to be a Student Dance Leader in the future?
Zuri: Definitely. I'm in Year 9 but have been dancing for what feels like my whole life. By the time I'm a senior, yes, I want to step up to that role and give it my all.