On February 19th, 2025, the Madison High School language department hosted their annual International Gala. The MHS International Gala includes performances and foods from various cultures. The languages taught at MHS, and represented at the Gala include: Italian, French, Mandarin, and Spanish.
MHS students taking those classes signed up to sing songs and read poetry, and they also brought authentic food to the event. Some of the songs and acts included Con Te Partiro, Latin Jazz, and Moonlight at Night by Maple Bridge.
The Gala is hosted in the MHS cafeteria where students and faculty fill the seats. There is also a large buffet table where everyone files into. Almost all the food is home-made and the consensus from those in attendance was that the food was very delicious.
The Gala also helps promote the language classes in the school. “The gala is a wonderful event that celebrates the languages and cultures of our school! Students and teachers work hard to make this event a success, and it always is. I think it is a great incentive for students, faculty, and staff to appreciate all the world language department has to offer,” said Italian teacher Amanda Latrenta.
There is a lot of fun to be had at the Gala, whether you are eating, listening, or even singing the songs. Max Bauman, who sang Con Te Partiro with John Davidson and Martin Bria, described singing on stage as “definitely nerve racking, but after starting, my nerves definitely went away. The audience seemed to be enjoying the song and there was a vibrant atmosphere.”
The MHS International Gala was a very lively event, with the cafeteria almost at max capacity. There were many cultures to take in, festive music and a variety of food. Be sure to attend next year as the tradition continues at the next MHS International Gala.