LECOM's Got Talent 2

LECOM’S GOT

Talent

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) enjoys a profound and enduring connection to the Erie community – a place from which its genesis illuminates the medical and educational futures of generations to come. Likewise, the LECOM Stage at the Erie Playhouse produces art that serves as a glimmering star in a shared humanity, providing illumination for the community. It is the forum in which those gathered explore that which it means to be alive in all of its depths of emotion. On November 22, 2019, the LECOM Stage at the Erie Playhouse hosted LECOM’s Got Talent II, the second exhibition of a philanthropic entertainment event first conceived by LECOM Vice President of Academic Affairs and School of Pharmacy Dean, Hershey Bell, MD.

A showcase of 15 musical offerings featured LECOM students, faculty, and staff in an evening production that benefited LECOM healthcare leaders of the future while

simultaneously delivering several hours of entertainment to a rapt audience. Dr. Bell opened the show with his original guitar-andvocal composition, Dream Two.

Members of the Northcoast Brass Company, including LECOM Biochemistry and Neuroscience Professor, Tom Corso, PhD, performed the Depression-era tune, Happy Days are Here Again, and the rock classic, Carry On.

Instrumental talents abounded with Hudson Jazz, featuring LECOM Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Alice Hudder, PhD, on the saxophone. The group entertained the audience with two selections.

Second-year pharmacy student, Emily Oravitz, sang a captivating rendition of the 1975 Fleetwood Mac hit, Landslide. Oravitz returned to the stage later in the program with a musical-theatre selection, her moving interpretation of On My Own from Les Misérables. In separate appearances, secondyear pharmacy student and accomplished saxophonist, Joseph Dedionisio, performed All of Me and Take Five.

LECOM at Seton Hill first-year medical scholar, Anthony Richardsen, adroitly demonstrated his skills on the jazz guitar.

Anuja Deore offered an unusual talent to the engaged gathering. The second-year student charmed the attendees with her selection performed on the penny whistle.

Dave Hopkins

Emily Oravitz

Alice Hudder

First-year medical student, Colton Andersen received a hearty audience response with his original guitar-and-vocal offering, entitled, Blue Eyes. Like Andersen, Krystal Kern, a LECOM Coffee Culture Café and Eatery employee, offered an original composition, singing and playing acoustic guitar on her piece entitled, Superman.

Jack Ogden, Director of LECOM Safe Kids Erie, and his longtime friend, Jordan Nichols, closed the First Act of the talent show with their rendition of The Traveller’s folk tune, Nobody Makes It Out.

The Second Act of LECOM’s Got Talent II began with second-year medical student, Aaron Bliss’ drum solo accompanying the Megalovania remix from the popular video game, Undertable.

Third-year medical student, Stephanie Peck, and her friend, keyboardist, Kyle Kruse, inspired the audience with Carrie Underwood’s critically acclaimed religious anthem, Something in the Water. Peck’s fiveyear-old daughter, Emelia, joined her mother on stage to sing a few lines of the iconic hymn, Amazing Grace.

Anuja Deore made a Second Act appearance on the LECOM Stage, playing the theme from Outlander on her penny whistle. Colton Anderson, Krystal Kern, and Anthony Richardsen each returned for a followup performance with original compositions on guitar.

Jack Ogden and Jordan Nichols made their Second Act return with a lively version of American country musician Tyler Childers’ album title song, Country Squire.

Dave Hopkins, Director of the LECOM Medical Fitness and Wellness Center, followed the duo with his original piece played on acoustic guitar, entitled, What You Leave Behind.

Dupree Deboe brought an air of Christmas to the evening as he crooned the holiday favorite, This Christmas. Dr. Hershey Bell and Stephanie Peck returned to the stage to serenade the audience with the sprightly tune, Flowin’ Like a River.

The evening of entertainment concluded with a grand finale as the performers gathered on stage to lead the audience in singing, Play On. The lyrics, composed by the LECOM Board of Trustees, captured the spirit of the event and served as a fitting culmination of the worthwhile endeavor.

Proceeds from LECOM’s Got Talent II, including ticket and T-shirt sales, basket raffles, a 50/50 drawing, and sponsorship from PNC Bank, directly benefited the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund.

The inaugural presentation of LECOM’s Got Talent, held in April of 2019, raised $4,000 for the Scholarship Fund; and the November showcase reprise almost doubled the contributions with more than $7,200 assisting LECOM scholars.

Indeed, the enthralling evening of entertainment and the audience delight brought about by the talented performers highlighted a cause that will surely transform lives for generations to come.