MCG’s Got Talent: How you can get involved

It’s the beginning of a new academic year, and Augusta University is hosting numerous events to generate support for programs that change the lives of community members in need.

The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University will be showcasing the talent of its future doctors with its yearly talent show, MCG’s Got Talent. The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre on the Summerville Campus. This year, an art show will take place beforehand at 6 p.m., showcasing pieces created by the medical students. 

“Any artists who want to submit photography, sculpture, canvas paintings or any kind of art, we’ll be displaying it in the lobby of Maxwell Theatre as well,” said Anvi Peddi, a second-year MCG student and the executive director of MCG’s Got Talent.

Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. All proceeds will go to the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University.

“Augusta is a big hub for promoting cancer awareness; it’s been taking people’s lives for years, and this gives us a platform to support a place here that’s helping people who are suffering from cancer. All of these funds are going toward patients who might need extra medical care or any kind of help beyond medical care,” Peddi said. “That’s why we encourage people to at least come and support the show, because even if you’re not participating, ticket proceeds directly support the mission. It’s bringing together all of your hobbies and talents and putting them toward a bigger cause, which is the purpose of a lot of what we do here.”

Last year, Peddi, along with Labdhi Mehta and Navya Katragadda, also second-year MCG students and the co-directors of talent for the show, performed Indian dances as a group in the talent show. After that, they set their sights on leadership positions this year.

The trio has been planning the event since January and is now in the final stages of searching for talent. Any student, staff or faculty member at MCG can apply, and the acts are limitless. From singing and dancing to playing a musical instrument, performing card tricks or showcasing acrobatics, all talents are welcome!

“We’re aiming to have around eight to 10 acts, and we have a few exhibition acts that are not judged, but they’re there for entertainment. We also have acts just for fun toward the end with some of our students who participated in the past, as well,” Peddi said.

“We do have some faculty already lined up – we have one professor, she’s going to be playing the viola, and we have one who’s going to be singing with his guitar,” Katragadda continued. “Then we have the Serotonins, which is our medical school a cappella group, and they’ll be doing a medley.”

“We also have a couple of first-years who are doing a type of dance as well, but we’re encouraging more first-years to apply because the deadline to apply is next week,” added Mehta.

The tentative deadline to apply is Aug. 11, but the can be flexible, if necessary. Each applicant is asked to submit a 20-second video preview of what they plan to perform, and they can submit their music and final piece a few days later.

The group has been fundraising for the past few months to help cover instrument rentals for performers who need them. 

“I think it’s a very full-circle moment. This is what brought us together last year, and now it’s us working together to bring other people together for a cause. It’s very meaningful,” Mehta said.