On April 13, 2024, FCSN held its tenth annual talent show finals at the Santa Clara Convention Theater. The show featured eleven finalist performances and eight honorable mentions, which were judged and selected during the talent show auditions earlier this year. Breaking down existing stereotypes and barriers, the event strives to inspire and uplift members of the special needs community. Now on its tenth year, the showcase has evolved from an informal opportunity for the special needs community to showcase their talent to a diverse form of empowerment for the community as a whole. Along with honoring many talented individuals within the community, the Special Needs Talent Showcase (SNTS) also supports winners with cash prizes and employment opportunities.

Emmy award winner Matt Keller, who has been the Master of Ceremonies for the SNTS since its inception in 2015, once again joined performers at the theater to provide witty and inspirational commentary. For the past ten years, Keller has witnessed the showcase evolve, changing from a small event with 40 auditions to receiving worldwide recognition. “Knowing that there are some people who auditioned a year, two years, three years, and then make it that fourth year shows that it means something and nothing is going to be handed to you; it’s a real competition that you have to work for,” he said. 

This year’s final competition judges emerged from a variety of backgrounds, from professional musicians and music instructors to news anchors. Christopher Costanza, one of the judges and a cellist in the St. Lawrence String Quartet, shared that it is “very difficult to judge” each of the finalist performances due to the variety of acts. “I look for things like proficiency, ability, how a performer communicates,” he said, listing some of the criteria that judges seek for in the performances. Dr. Lauren Libero, an autism specialist and another one of the 2024 final competition judges, shared her amazement at the inclusivity of the SNTS: “It’s absolutely incredible to see a showcase this diverse in terms of ages, ability, [etc.].”

The showcase began with the Honorable Mention acts, featuring individuals, duets, and groups performing a variety of talents such as singing, dancing, and instrumental music. Pianist Andrew Quach was one Honorable Mention winner who took the stage to showcase his talent in front of the large crowd. “I just want him to get people to know his talent for music,” his mother said. “Participating in the competition also gives him more chances to practice [in front of a large audience].” Another Honorable Mention winner, Frank Prenot, performed a rendition of “Star-Spangled Banner.” Having taken part in the showcase multiple times in the past, Frank recounts his experiences: “The audience just breaks into complete cheer and it just makes me feel so, so good.” 

This year’s finalist acts included a variety of artistic and musical performances, ranging from vocal and instrumental to dance and even two original pieces by Chris Koraltan (rap) and Keerat Sharma (piano). The theater was filled with overflowing support and encouragement for each of the finalists, with audiences cheering on each performer’s unique talents. Each finalist was exceedingly talented in their art and professional in their performance, encompassing the spirit of performance and entertainment and inspiring the special needs community. Clarissa Kowalski, a finalist performing an Aerial Hoop dance as well as a Top 3 Winner, expressed that the showcase was life changing in its uniqueness. “Before the talent showcase, I sat in my room all day and watched screens. Now, I’m focusing on hoop and trapeze, and I am so happy that I finally have a talent to share,” she said. 

Select past winners were also given the opportunity to perform in the 2024 show to further uplift and inspire the special needs community, as well as showcase the diversity of talents within the show. Tony Nakamoto, a 2018 winner, performed “Queen Bee Fights Back” on the marimba. Goyo Alvarez, an 2022 winner, performed a comedy show, while Karina Bengo, a 2019 winner, performed a contemporary dance to the song “Circle of Life.” Ansel Kam, a 2023 winner, played “Concerto No. 2 in G Minor” on the violin, and finally, Erin Spradley, a 2018 winner, presented a vocal solo performance of “The Power of One.” 

Hundreds of audience members gathered in support and admiration for the performers, with a large portion coming from the FCSN community. The solidarity expressed within the theater showcased the importance of the talent show in uplifting people with special needs and erasing the stigma surrounding certain disabilities. The audience included many members of the special needs community, allowing the showcase to serve as a source of inspiration. “I think it’s a reminder that we as a society often put artificial limitations on people,” said Gabriel Robin, Executive Director of the North Bay Regional Center. “If we set the bar high, and we think big, people with disabilities will almost always exceed our expectations.” After the performances, audience members had the opportunity to vote for their favorite act for the People’s Choice Awards to show their support for the finalists.

Because of the exceptional technical accuracy and spirit of each of the finalist acts as well as the diversity of the performances, judges had an exceedingly difficult time choosing three winners. Dion Lim, an Emmy-Award winning news anchor and a final showcase judge, said she enjoyed witnessing the talent of all the contestants. “I found myself with my mouth wide open,” she said. “The breadth of talent is really wide.” 

In the end, the 2024 Top 3 Winners were Keerat Sharma in piano, Clarissa Kowalski in aerial hoop dance, and Chris Koraltan in vocal music. Chris Koraltan was also the People’s Choice Award winner and the Showmanship winner, capturing the hearts of audience members with his exceptional stage presence and heartwarming lyrics in his self-composed rap. Having been a past Honorable Mention winner and Finalist in stand up comedy and dance, he is now embarking on a musical career under the name C.K. The Element. Under the official YouTube recording of his 2024 performance, Chris commented that the attention he received “proves [he] made the right choice in pursuing [his] music career professionally” and that he would continue to represent the special needs community positively. Anna Wang, the FCSN Vice President of Enrichment Programs and Community Relation, expressed her respect for his tenacity. “When he said he’ll never stop pursuing his dream, he’s not kidding,” she said as he received his multiple awards.

You can view the full showcase and highlights of the performances on the Special Needs Talent Showcase YouTube Channel here.