Beware the 'Idols' of March: Library Youth Council Holds Talent Show

These days talent is not just found in Hollywood; it can be found right in your local library amongst a group of youth advisory council members.

On Tuesday night, the Tinley Park Library Youth Advisory Council had their meeting and a talent show to culminate the night’s events.

The Youth Advisory Council allows teens and young adults to be part of an organization that helps to plan events for the young adult patrons at the . Each month the council gets together to discuss various things. 

The council consists of President Jimmy Ventrella, a sophomore at , Vice President Molly Miernicki, a senior at , specials operations coordinators Marc Quatrini, a junior at Tinley Park High School, and Nick Mendel, a sophomore at Tinley Park High School, and secretary Nawal Elayyan, a junior at Aqsa, a private school in Bridgeview.

Young adult librarian Jennier Lowe, who is in charge of the council, said when she plans the meetings she always tries to tie in a theme to give a purpose to each meeting.

"Last month was show and this month I decided we would do a talent show – 'The Idols of March,'" Lowe said, adding that May will be a birthday party theme.

As one may have guessed, the Idols of March may have some meaning to the famous television show, American Idol. However, in this case, there were no judges telling anyone they were not good enough to go on to the next level. This “Idol” was strictly to showcase teen talent in the youth community of the Tinley Park Library.

To begin the night’s events was Anthony (A.J.) Brattoli, a Summit Hill eighth grader (and member of the Summit Hill band). He has played the tuba for four years, and for the talent show he delighted his peers with “Magnolia” on his tuba. But A.J. isn’t the only talented Brattoli. His brother, Nicholas Brattoli, a sixth grader at Hilda Walker performed the “3 Jacks” card trick as he amazed his audience.

Next up was Omar Farhan, a sixth grader at and Mathew Eggert, a seventh grader at . They performed a rap entitled “Weather Report” by the rap star Goremy.

Next up was George Carlin, or rather eighth grade Grissom Middle School student Max Kircher. Kircher did an impersonation of Carlin.

In addition to these kids were several others who danced, acted and played other instruments. Molly Blitstein and Lizzie O’Hearn, students at Grissom Middle School, acted out an infomercial. The last performer of the night didn’t actually perform; instead he showed his drum skills via YouTube. Marc Quatrini has been playing the drums for a while, and has become very skilled at playing them – his YouTube video is proof of that.

"It's amazing to see how much talent the kids have. I think it is great that the kids want to share their talents, and it helps to bring the group closer together," Lowe said.

Special Operations Coordinator Marc Quatrini said he thought the night was great.

"I thought everything went very well for the talent show, and that everyone did a great job," he said.

"The meetings allow all of us to get together and have some fun, while planning various youth related things," Nawal Elayyan said. "It's great to be able to show off some talent, and have fun doing it."

"Sometimes this is the only time many of these kids get to see each other, so it means a lot to be able to do these types of activities," Lowe said. "The teens are best part of my day. They are smart, funny, and always amaze me with what they can do both on stage and off stage."