Shark Gold: Passionate performers expand their team

By Danna Bertel •

Molly Sullivan, senior health and wellness coaching major, first auditioned for the Sharing Talent Scholars program because she wanted the opportunity to focus on both arts and academics.

“I thought that I would have to give up the arts transitioning from high school into college, and Shark Talent gave me the opportunity to do both,” Sullivan said. “When I was auditioning, they said I would be perfect for this program they were kick-starting this year called Shark Gold, and that’s how it all happened.”

As part of the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts and the Razor’s Edge Shark Talent Scholars Program, Shark Gold is a group that performs songs from the 1950s through the 1980s. The group’s objective is to build connections and nostalgia with the audience through classic hits.

Shark Gold sings “Boogie Shoes” at Sharkapalooza 2023. PHOTO BY BRIELLE AGUAYO.

As a performer, Sullivan strives to tell a story while connecting with her audience.

“One of the key things that I have always held close to my heart as a performer is telling a story and making that connection with the audience, and how you can communicate that, whether it’s by changing how you sing a specific note, how you change your facial expressions, or your body movements,” Sullivan said.

Being part of Shark Gold since her freshman year, Sullivan has now taken the responsibility of student manager. She is looking for students to showcase their dance and vocal talents.

“This year, I wanted to focus not only on singers, but dancers as well. We are taking people from all different majors and all different backgrounds,” Sullivan said. “The goal with these auditions is to have a wall of sound and a wall of excellence—the bigger the numbers, the better.”

Wanting the group to grow in size and performance quality, Brandon Ysibido, junior engineering major and Shark Gold member, said that adding dancers will be a great addition to the shows.

“We want to be grander than we’ve ever been. We want to explore how we can use the stage to its best ability,” Ysibido said. “We can sing, but at the end of the day, people don’t want to come and just watch people standing on the stage singing. They want to see a spectacle, so that’s what we’re hoping to give.”

Shark Gold has performed at the Celebration of Excellence, the STUEYs, and Sharkapalooza. The group plans to build a community by adding more talent to the stage.

“This year, I’d really like to see us grow and do more events for NSU and the student body. We want to make ourselves known. We want people to know the name Shark Gold,” Ysibido said.