On April 19th, 2023, the Lawrence Avenue stage was set ablaze with incredible talent as staff and people supported from all five boroughs showcased their skills at the 11th Annual ADAPT Community Network “We Got Talent” show.
Even before the show began, the audience was already singing and dancing to the DJ’s beats. Host Michael Matrone, ADAPT’s Chief Compliance Officer, appeared on stage in a flashy gold sequin jacket to introduce the featured guest performer, Joshua Wilson, who gave a fantastic performance of “Music of the Night” from the Phantom of the Opera. His singing was met with thunderous applause and cheers from the audience, marking a triumphant return for the three-time 1st place winner.
“It’s my way to say thank you,’” Joshua said of his performance. “And it’s more than the talent show that I’m going to be performing at—I’m also going to be performing at programs”. Keep an eye out for Joshua’s future performances at ADAPT’s Adult Day Programs.
ADAPT would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the talented performers, both people supported and staff, who brought their ‘A-game’ to the show. Noel Javier took 1st place for his animated dance and singing performance of “I Want it That Way” by the Backstreet Boys, while Maurice Bryan secured 2nd place for his original rap “Why U Mad?”. Latisha Jackson captured 3rd place for her electrifying dance performance of “Single Ladies” by Beyoncé.
Khadim Sanders brought down the house with his original song “So Alive,” earning him the 1st place spot in the staff category. Kassandra Baptiste and Alex Olaniyan secured 2nd place with their impressive drum and vocal performance of “One Love” by Bob Marley. Marvin Almengor rounded up the staff category with a beautiful rendition of “Embraceable You” by George Gershwin.
The 1st place winners received $300, the 2nd place winners received $200, and the 3rd place winners received $100 and each winner received a trophy to honor their accomplishments.
The audience was thrilled with every single performance that was creative, brilliant, and a pleasure to watch. The remaining acts were incredibly diverse and included acting, piano-playing and much more. The audience actively participated by singing and dancing along with the performers, creating an energetic and vibrant atmosphere throughout the show.
We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who attended “We Got Talent”, both in-person and virtually, for supporting and encouraging our talented performers. We also want to express our gratitude to our judges for taking their time and efforts to evaluate the performances and decide the winners. Edward R. Matthews, CEO of ADAPT Community Network, Robert Bolton, VP of Facilities at ADAPT, and DJ Whutever, instructor of “Whutever It Takes” a DJing class that is part of our Adult Learning catalog. All did a fantastic job. It was truly a night to remember, filled with fantastic performances, enthusiastic audiences and remarkable winners.
To see updates about future events, please follow @adaptwechange on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. If you missed “We Got Talent,” keep an eye on our YouTube channel (also @adaptwechange) in the coming weeks to see a full recording of the show.
