Cornelia Ehlebracht ‘25
Managing Editor
The atmosphere in the Washington Room was electric on Friday, Oct. 25, as students gathered for the highly anticipated 19th Annual Men Of Color Alliance (MOCA) Talent Show. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., performers from Trinity and Hartford alike showcased their talents, making this year’s event one of the biggest yet. The evening kicked off with introductions from the MOCA executive board, who expressed their excitement for the lineup of talent about to unfold. Hosting the event was Trinity alum Heyssis Castillo ’22, whose vibrant energy set the tone for the night.
“I’ve always known that music was a huge part of me. I’m Dominican, so a lot of the music that I grew up on was bachata and merengue. I did more dancing growing up than singing, but I always knew that music is something that was super special to me, it was my favorite way to express myself.” Heyssis’ musical journey began in middle school when a teacher recognized her vocal talent. “She was the first person in my life to really tell me, ‘Hey, you should actually see what this is,’” recalled Heyssis. The teacher created a school talent show, where Heyssis first took the stage in sixth grade. However, that performance was far from perfect. “I messed up and my voice cracked in front of the whole school, and I vowed that I would never sing again.” It wasn’t until Heyssis reached Trinity that she had the confidence to get back to music. “I joined the Trinity College Quirks my freshman year, and that was a really cool space for me to explore my voice and find my sound, and also just learn a lot from other people who had more experience singing and being in those kinds of spaces.”
Returning to the Washington room stage where she first showcased her voice at the MOCA talent show as a sophomore was particularly poignant for Heyssis, “That was a super full circle moment for me,” she said. “I definitely wanted to come back and show my gratitude and vibe out with the Trinity community because of all the support that I received while I was there.” Heyssis believes that the talent displayed at the MOCA talent show continues to evolve, “Honestly, I feel like the talent just gets better and better every year,” she noted. “MOCA being able to consistently give that space and create that atmosphere for people to go up and showcase the things that make them happy, their artistic abilities and create such a safe space for people to do so, too, I think is very powerful.” Her pride in being a Bantam is tangible, “I met some of my best friends in the whole world while being at Trinity,” she said. The sense of community remains strong, as evidenced by MOCA Co-President Xabian Alacron ’25 who invited her back to host the show, “That just goes to show the community that is built at Trinity,” she added. Staying connected to her alma mater is important to Heyssis. “Last year, a big group of us went to the Caribbean Student Association Fashion Show. We just tried to pull up, support, and show love to the community that poured into us. I want to continue to do so.” Throughout her journey in music, Heyssis has faced challenges and moments of doubt. “It sounds cliché, but don’t give up,” she advised aspiring artists. “Especially now, when it comes to music, things can be a bit over-saturated, and that can be discouraging. It’s easy to lose sight of your ‘why.’” She emphasizes the importance of personal happiness over industry standards. “Sometimes it’s not even about being a staple in the industry. It’s about does this make you happy? It’s about the expression of it. It’s about the art.”
“And sometimes you can lose sight of that, and then it gets, you know, it blurs the lines a bit, and you feel, like, super lost, and you don’t know where to go or what to do. And I’ve definitely been in those positions a lot, but it’s about always sticking to your why, right? Like, why are you doing this? Why does this make you happy?” “I’ve definitely been in positions where I’m like, why am I doing this? I just lose sight of my why. And it always comes back to me, though, because I know that, this is in me, and it’s about expressing myself and sharing my voice and hopefully also being able to be a voice to others.”
Heyssis encourages current students to be proactive, “Asking some friends, ‘Hey, are you guys down to create?’, like a random jam session on the quad…actively creating opportunities for the community to ]express themselves and continue to build that creative community as well, I think is very important.”
Her gratitude for Trinity is evident, “Being in that space was what really got me back into the flow of my music,” she revealed. “I’m super grateful to the Trinity community for continuously supporting me, looking out and giving me opportunities to express myself. I hope they continue to do that for the current students and those who will be there in the future.” Listen to Heyssis’ 2021 EP “888” on all music platforms and follow her on Instagram and Tiktok @heyssis_ for updates on her life, music and upcoming second EP. “I’m really excited to share what I’ve created so far, the evolution of my debut and where I am now vocally and lyrically.”
The performances began with Trinity’s Accidentals, who captivated the audience with their a capella rendition of “Sitting on the Edge of Georgia.” This was followed by a series of acts that highlighted the diverse talents of our student body and the local Hartford community. AC!D, a local rapper, brought the rhythmic flair, while Trinity’s Elemental Movement Dance Crew delivered a stunning performance that had the crowd waiting for more. Heyssis reflected, “I was a part of Elemental for a little bit while I was at Trinity, and it was really cool just to see them on stage and seeing them rock the same uniform that we would wear when we performed, too.” Heyssis also took to the stage, performing three songs including an original piece and a rendition of “American Boy.” The audience was particularly enthusiastic about her performance, marking her first appearance at the MOCA Talent Show since graduating in 2022.
Another standout was Marwan ElBorolossey ’25 and Allan Mukkuzhi ’27, who wowed the crowd with an electric guitar and bass performance that showcased their musical prowess, with an absence of vocals. Heyssis stated, “[ElBorolossey] approached me, and [said] ‘I don’t know if you remember me, but I popped up at your show your senior year at The Mill, and that was super cool and super motivating’ and he said he went home that night and wrote his first song because of how motivated he was. That just goes to show the energy, the powerful force that music is in general, but also, the energy that we cultivated in the space and the energy that The Mill has in general.”
Singer-Songwriter Shehana Siriwardena ’25, professionally known as Shehxna, followed with a soulful rendition of “All I Ask,” leaving many in the audience moved. Victor Ortiz, another Hartford resident, performed a hip-hop and contemporary dance routine that added another layer of excitement to the lineup. The night concluded with The Trinity College Gospel Singers, who left a lasting impression on the audience with their harmonies. Heyssis complemented, “Even when I was a student at Trinity, I always enjoyed watching them perform. But seeing them now post-graduation, I can definitely see that so much effort has been put into the group since I’ve been there, such a more mature sound and unity, everyone blended so well.” With the Washington Room filled, the energy was palpable as the five student judges were tasked with the difficult decision of selecting the top performers. The Trinity College Gospel Choir, with the helping hands of Hartford Youth Service Corps, Our Piece of the Pie Inc., deservedly won first place. ElBorolossey and Mukkuzhi won second place and The Elemental Movement Dance Crew won third place. As the night concluded, it was clear that Heyssis’s return was more than just a performance; it was a celebration of the community that shaped her and a reminder of the power of the arts.
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