2026 Talent Quest

On Wednesday, May 20th, Wangaratta High School hosted its 43rd annual Talent Quest, delivering an evening of high-octane entertainment that won’t soon be forgotten. With a packed audience of over 300 people and a massive line-up of 23 acts, the show was expertly guided from start to finish by the charismatic student MCs, Emilio Miliankos-Kiing and Oscar Benson – proving themselves to be an absolute ‘Dynamite Duo’ in more ways than one.  

The show kicked off with its time-honoured tradition: the vivacious and multi-talented Year 12 opening. Dressed to impress under a 2000s theme, the graduating class set a spectacular mood for the night. The stage came alive with an eclectic mix of nostalgia, featuring everything from Fountain Lakes finest and cooking mice, to high fashion models, pitch-perfect sign seers, alien-policing Men in Black, and a whole Jamiroquai of Napoleon Dynamites (rightfully earning MC’s Emilio and Oscar, alongside Jack Ford, and Lachie Pensak the Best Year 12 Costume award).  

Once the stage was set, the opening act, Dirty Hands, threw hard punches with a rendition of 'Eye of the Tiger', immediately getting the crowd's adrenaline pumping. 

With so many acts taking the stage, the night was a masterclass in variety, leaving a formidable panel of judges with some incredibly tough decisions. This year’s expert panel included ex-alumni and professional musicians Clancy Bassett and Marc Paola, professional vocalist Antonia Maher, and Wang High Sports Teacher - and absolute legend - Sandy Newman. 

Taking out the coveted title of Overall Winners was the Year 12 powerhouse band, Fridge Girl. Made up of Levi Zachariou, Aurelio McIlroy, Luka Hildebrand, Riley Sutherland, and Cooper Young, the group performed 'Sunflower' and absolutely owned the stage. The sheer craft and comfort they showcased made them an obvious standout. 

It was a particularly busy and successful night for individual members of the band, too. Earlier in the first act, Luka Hildebrand had already showcased his stellar guitar skills with 'Comfortably Numb'. Meanwhile, frontman Levi Zachariou had performed an emotional solo of 'Glimpse of Us' to open the second act - a performance so moving it earned him the Best Male Vocalist award. 

Remarkably, Levi wasn’t the only member of his family to shine. The Zachariou household is clearly blessed with strong musical genes, as Levi's younger sister, Mia Zachariou, delivered a hair-raisingly good solo performance of 'Die on this Hill', rightfully earning her the title of Best New Talent. 

The award for Best Female Vocalist went to Alexis Cox. After helping kick off the night in the opening 'Eye of the Tiger' ensemble, Alexis returned to the stage in the second half to deliver a resonating, intense, and unforgettable solo cover of Radiohead’s 'Creep'. 

This year’s talent quest truly offered something for everyone. Nim Drysdale showed her roots early in the first act with a traditional Thai Dance. Poised, thoughtful, elegant, and fascinating, her beautiful display earned her the Best Variety Act award. 

In a brilliant shift of tempo, Jacinta Snowdon captivated the room with a flawless flute solo of Laufey's 'Clockwork'. Marking her third flute solo in as many Talent Quests, Jacinta's dedication and undeniable skill earned her the Best Instrumentalist award. 

There wasn't a dry eye in the house, however, when Lusila Solomua took the stage. In a deeply emotional tribute to her late best friend, Ata, Lusila sang 'Love Will Keep Us Alive' (Tiaho Mai Ra). It was a performance of immense significance and grace, earning her a well-deserved Special Judges Award. 

And then, there were the acts that left the audience entirely incredulous. Early on in the first act, the saxophone quartet CHEX - fresh back from performing at Melbourne's prestigious Hamer Hall - pivoted the room's energy beautifully with a lively, crowd-pleasing rendition of the Monsters Inc. theme. Later on, near the end of the second act, CHEX member and resident "scream machine" Elliott Rowles returned to the stage solo to perform 'Slaughterhouse 2' to a stunned and amazed crowd.  

Not to be outdone by the students, the Wang High staff acts were firmly in their element. Embracing the 2000s theme with plenty of enthusiasm, many teachers looked thrilled to be reliving their late teens (or early 20s and 30s). The crowd went wild as the staff tore up the stage dancing to Flo Rida and rocking out to Wolfmother, bringing a fantastic dose of fun and energy to the evening's program. 

An event of this scale doesn't happen without an incredible army behind the scenes. A massive thank you goes to Travas Hope for the flawless sound, Grant Davies for the spectacular lighting, and the entire Wang High Music Team led by the irreplaceable Scott Solimo. A huge thank you to Marc Bongers and Kev McGennan for capturing the night behind the lens.  

While the winners took home the official titles, a massive congratulations goes out to every single student who had the bravery and dedication to take the stage. From Year 7 to Year 12, whether singing, dancing, playing, or screaming, the entire community showcased the absolute best Wangaratta High School has to offer. Well done!  

Keyna MacPhee