The KAUST Got Talent is an annual celebration of the incredible talent that exists within our community. Campus and Community (C&C) is honored to be able to provide a platform to showcase their skills.
Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable night of entertainment.
- Date: Thursday, May 29
- Time: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Place: Auditorium, Building 20
Program
We have an amazing lineup of finalists who have worked tirelessly to perfect their craft and showcase their talent to the community. Additionally, we have an exciting lineup of guest performers, including previous KAUST Got Talent winners.
Come early to get the best seats. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Intermission at 7:00 p.m.
Prizes
The winner of KAUST Got Talent 2025 will be awarded business class return air tickets with the runners up receiving Amazon gift vouchers.
Meet the Show Hosts – Belky and David Ketcheson
David and Belky are active members of the KAUST community that has been their home for more than 15 years.
Belky loves dancing and has organized community salsa classes; she also volunteers at TKS, and has hosted the talent show many times.
David is a professor of applied mathematics and has organized outreach activities at TKS as well as co-hosting KAUST's Got Talent the past two years.
Meet the Judges
KAUST Got Talent winners are chosen by both audience and a panel of judges, each accounting for 50% of the result. A "real-time" voting app will be used at the end of all the performances.
Learn more about the judging panel below.
David Keyes
Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computational Science, CEMSE Division
David Keyes, a computational mathematician and founding dean at KAUST, studied piano, music theory, and composition as a youth while participating in bands, orchestras, choruses, and musical theatre. In high school, he premiered his own piano concerto, conducted his Rhythmic Episode for Orchestra with the Newton Symphony, and soloed on piano with the Boston Pops Orchestra under Arthur Fiedler in Boston’s Symphony Hall. At Princeton, he studied composition under Paul Lansky and sang in the Glee Club. He has played in chamber concerts with his violist wife of 45 years, Wendy, the founding director of the KAUST Office of the Arts. Keyes has written about sixty songs with New York City jazz artist Mavis Pan, many of which have premiered at KAUST.
Marchelle Dickinson
Middle and High School Music Teacher, The KAUST School
Born and raised in a vibrant musical family in South Africa, Marchelle Dickinson discovered her passion for music at an early age. She began performing as part of the vocal group Con Grazia, a talented ensemble of sisters known for their harmonious sound and dynamic stage presence. Together, they have performed across South Africa and internationally, and released two albums, reflecting their love for music.
Selena Franchini
Graduate Program Coordinator, BESE Division
Selena is a graduate program coordinator at KAUST, where she supports students through every step of their academic journey. But beyond schedules and student milestones, she has a deep love for the arts and a rich background in cultural event planning and creative communications. With experience across Europe and the Middle East, Selena brings a global perspective and a passion for storytelling and performance. As a talent show judge, she’s looking forward to celebrating the creativity, diversity, and bold spirit of the KAUST community—on stage and behind the scenes!
John Cleland
Project Director, KAUST Beacon Development
John is a project director at KAUST Beacon Development. Having been at KAUST for nearly four years, he was part of a group that reestablished the Community Music Club and worked with the multitude of talented KAUST community members to create a community club band (FLOOiD). Musically, he has been drumming in various bands across Scotland and Australia since about 1987—and now at KAUST. Enjoying the music scene has been critical to maintaining balance and having something creative to do outside of work.
We are positive that this year's show will be a great success and hope you join us in supporting and voting for the talents from our community.
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CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY
