OCHS Student Needs Your Vote in Performance to Aid COVID-19 Victims

By TIM KELLY An Ocean City High School student’s love of music and the performing arts could pay off for OCNJ CARE, the non-profit organization helping victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. That is, with your help. Erik Wagner, 17, a senior-to-be at OCHS, is a contestant in Broadwayworld.com’s “Next on Stage” online competition for high school students. The main prize for the winner is $1,000 in cash to be donated to the charity of his or her choice. “Ocean City has been so generous in its support of the performing arts, and has done so much for me personally over the years, I feel an obligation to give back,” Erik said of his motivation. “OCNJ CARE does a great job of collecting and distributing items and funds for people in serious need because of the pandemic,” he added. “It’s a great opportunity to do something to try to support their work.” Erik, a member of the OCHS Marching and Jazz bands, and veteran performer in school productions and those of the Ocean City Theatre Company, said he would donate his winnings to OCNJ CARE should he win the top prize “I’ve always been very impressed by the support our performing arts community receives from the town,” he remarked. “Everyone is so supportive it makes you want to do something in return.” In the contest, competitors submit performance videos which visitors to the Broadwayworld.com site are asked to rate and submit their votes. Those wishing to help Erik in his quest should click on the link below and follow the instructions. https://www.broadwayworld.com/nextonstagehighschool/erik-wagner Erik Wagner shows off his piano and vocal skills during the OC’s Got Talent show. (Photo courtesy of Erik Wagner) For the contest, Erik submitted a vocal performance of the song “Thin Air” from the Broadway musical “Amelie.”

“It’s a song about trying to have a person open up to get to know them,” he explained. “I’ve been on both ends of that situation. I’ve tried to become friends with people who stay closed up, and I’ve been the one closing myself off. The message is to take a chance and open up. Otherwise you’re never going to get to know the other person.”

The contest is just the latest show biz project for Erik, who said he will pursue a career in music education after college.

“Music has been a deep passion of mine since I was about five years old,” he said.

He has performed at the Primary, Intermediate and High School levels in town since he was eight years old, when his family moved here from Pilesgrove. He’s also sung in the choir at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church and appeared in OCTC productions over the years and in city events and productions.

Erik plays the clarinet in the high school bands and he is also proficient at guitar, keyboards and harmonica, he said.

“I was always that kid in the band or the school play or the show,” he said.

With the support of the local community, those talents could benefit OCNJ CARE and ultimately those severely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.