First years Aidan Strovink, ’29 (left) and Amanda Bergeron, ’29 (right).
On March 28, those in attendance of the Wheaton Events Board’s “Wheaton’s Got Talent” were in for a real treat. Two musically active students, Aidan Strovink ’29, and Amanda Bergeron ’29, took to the bottom of Hindle Auditorium, guitars in hand and a song in mind. Their duet performance of Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift, featuring Ed Sheeran, under their fitting stage names, Ed Grande (Strovink) and Taylor Tall (Bergeron), took home Best Duet of the evening, showcasing their tenacity, hard work, and dedication to their craft, and each other. Their performance was met with a large, roaring ovation heard throughout Hindle.
Bergeron, a member of the Wheatones, and Strovink, a member of the Gentlemen Callers and Wheaton College Chamber Singers, are not new to being on stage or in the spotlight. THey also share a lot of similarities: both are members of the Wheaton college Chorale, both picked up the guitar in their senior year of high school, and both are immensely hard workers and extremely passionate about what they do. Additionally, the two have been on the music scene for a good portion of their lives, taking up piano before getting acquainted with the guitar. They have a lot for singing, which have led them into the world of acapella. Both partook in choir long before coming to Wheaton.
For Strovink, he’s slowed down on piano, but mentioned how his father is an incredible pianist, “I became really good at it, and did performances at school,” he said. At one point in time, he took a break from piano, and performing as a whole, to turnin attention to coping with anxiety, picking things back up in high school. Strovink picked up guitar through a teacher after interning at a local elementary school, jumping in on Ukulele with his class, and then shifted to the guitar last June. Having this this opportunity was important to him, as he said the teacher he worked with really allowed him to have a big part in his class. “It brings me a ton of joy to be able to play it,” he said.
As for Bergeron, she shifted from the piano, over to guitar after finding correlations between the two instruments. “Piano has always been a passion of mine,” she stated, “but picking up guitar has been exciting, it gives me more to play.” She also noted how her parents are her biggest supporters when it comes to what she does, citing last year as an example. With her brother hospitalized around the time of her birthday, they got her a guitar as a source of comfort, acknowledging how difficult things were, but acknowledging her perseverance through it all. “Shoutout to my parents, they’re my biggest supporters out there,” she said. “They just know when I need something and how to lift me up.”
Their story as a duo, but also as great friends, took off upon meeting at the WEISS Leadership program. When the two started hanging out, they found out that they shared something in common: guitar. This led them to play with one another, and then agreed to perform together. Bergeron compared her relationship to Strovink the way in which she described being a part of the Wheatones. She appreciates how they foster a place where, while they get work done, they look out for each other, and have fun along the way. She mentions that Strovink is exceptionally supportive, and very constructive when it comes to practicing.
Both have expressed interest in being able to continue with these duets. “We want to find other songs to practice and perform, too.” Strovink said. “I’m really excited for future duets.” Bergeron told me, “Aidan is wonderful to work with.”
Bergeron and Strovink will be back in action this weekend in the Lyons Den, at Wheaton Woodstock Unplugged on Saturday, April 18.