Event Dispatch: Bringing SOM Talent to the Stage

In this series, students answer quickfire questions about events across campus.

Event: Star Search
Host: Arts & Culture Club and the Internship Fund
Location: Toad’s Place
Date: March 26, 2026

What was the event?

Star Search is our annual talent show, where members of the SOM community get up on stage and share talents they love—that express who they are. It’s also a fundraiser for the Internship Fund, which supports students doing impact-oriented summer internships by offering funding and removing some of the monetary concerns that might come with pursuing these opportunities.

Who showed up?

A large portion of the SOM community! I saw first- and second-year MBAs, one-year degree students, and partners of students. It’s really a community event by SOM for SOM, celebrating what makes us special.

What happened?

Two emcees, Tayeb Awan ’26 and Mariam Hassoun ’27, guided us through an evening of performances. There were bands, singers performing original songs and musical theater pieces, and even someone juggling on a unicycle.

For my first number, I presented a teaser for the Business & Society musical that I’m directing in April. Every year, we do a performance at Star Search to get people excited. I dressed up as Neo from The Matrix—the musical is a Matrix parody—and introduced Rebekah Wellons, a second-year, to perform “Attaining Salary,” a parody of the song “Defying Gravity,” from last year’s musical.

Afterwards, I performed “If I Were a Rich Man,” a song from the musical Fiddler on the Roof, set in a Jewish village in imperial Russia. It’s a song that holds special significance in my heart as a Jewish man whose family escaped the pogroms. To me, richness is about wealth of experience and wealth of freedom—having the ability to practice your religion and to show up as your true, authentic self.

Best moment?

I was really touched by the last number. Nico Sahi ’26 and Phil Reilly ’26 sang “For Good” from Wicked, dressed as Elphaba and Glinda. They sang it as an anthem to the MBA experience so far, thanking the community for the good that we’ve been able to impart to each other.

Who should go next time?

Everybody—students, staff, and faculty. I’m a huge advocate for this night. Putting yourself out there and performing is not something you typically get the chance to do, and it’s a beautiful opportunity. It’s also a way to see and appreciate other people’s talents. You might not have known that they could sing, or write, or rap, or juggle, or sword dance. Seeing people share something that’s a core part of their identity—something they might not have had the opportunity to share in class—requires vulnerability and creates a true sense of human connection. That’s what makes Star Search an event unlike anything else.